New York Family November 2014

NYC CRIBS: DREAM BUILDINGS FOR FAMILIES NOVEMBER 2014

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GIVEAWAY

& REVIEW page 8

soul

SISTERS Girls Star And Artist Jemima Kirke Renowned Doula And Musician Domino Kirke Discuss Motherhood, City Living, And Their Creative Career Paths

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NEW YORK FAMILY

Education

Trend Report

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FEATURES

HOME & AWAY

28 | Soul Sisters “Girls” star and artist Jemima Kirke and renowned doula and musician Domino Kirke discuss motherhood, city living, and their creative career paths

75 | Real Estate A roundup of NYC’s most family-friendly new buildings and classic properties

35 | Party City There’s no place like NYC for a birthday fête to please any age or interest 50 | Mitzvah Magic From flashy fun to traditional elegance, our top picks for where to host your bar or bat mitzvah celebration are sure to delight 59 | Education Trend Report From changes in policy at the NYC Department of Education to technologies that are having an impact on how kids are educated to the rise of STEM and early language learning, there’s a lot of noteworthy education trends and news

FAMILY FUN GUIDE 10 | 10 Great Events For November “The Magic Flute” at New Victory, Canstruction, Gingerbread Lane at NYSci, and more

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78 | Quality Time An ancient art comes together with modern style and plenty of fun activity options at Brooklyn’s Hiho Batik

COLUMNS 6 | Editor’s Note He For She and She For He 8 | Events & Offers Blackboard Awards nominations, our upcoming Camp Fairs, the scoop on signing up for our newsletters, and an UPPAbaby stroller and car seat giveaway 14 | Scoop A cool cookbook for kids, a party supply resource, a new celeb-designed kids’ clothing line, and more 16 | Treats Set the scene (and the table) for a fabulously festive Thanksgiving with our cornucopia of gifts

16 | Special Place At Little Maestros, the city’s youngest musicians get a taste of rock and pop 22 | A Good Idea Buoyed by his love of toys, local dad and journalist Jim Silver has created the ultimate shopping app and website—TTPM—for parents seeking reviews of all things play 25 | Activity of the Month: Music Picking up an instrument as a child can lead to a myriad of developmental and life-long benefits 80 | The Last Word A local mother of two reflects on nostalgia and shared experiences in parenting Cover Photo by Kristina Loggia.

Jemima Kirke and Domino Kirke wear their own pieces. www.newyorkfamily.com

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T:3.545”

A treat for the whole family.

NOVEMBER 2014 EDITOR AND CO-PUBLISHER Eric Messinger emessinger@ manhattanmedia.com SENIOR EDITOR Mia Weber mweber@ manhattanmedia.com ASSOCIATE EDITOR Lauren Vespoli lvespoli @ manhattanmedia.com ART DIRECTOR Holly Morrison hmorrison@manhattanmedia.com ADVERTISING DESIGNER Rachael Tucker rtucker@manhattanmedia.com

CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Heidi Green, Karen Haberberg, Michael Jurick, Sarah Merians, Andrew Schwartz, Ali Smith CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Leah Black, September Broadhead, Natalie Diaz, Hillary Chura, Felicia Czochanski, Nora Fried, Sohee Kim, Miriam Hersh, Gavriella Mahpour T:9.575”

PUBLISHER John Hurley FOR INFORMATION ON THE BABY SHOW 212.268.3086, jhurley@ manhattanmedia.com ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER Mary Ann Oklesson maoklesson @ manhattanmedia.com SPECIAL PROJECTS DIRECTOR Alex Schweitzer aschweitzer@ manhattanmedia.com

HANSEL AND GRETEL ENGELBERT HUMPERDINCK

SALES ASSISTANT Erik Bliss ebliss@ manhattanmedia.com CIRCULATION Aaron Pollard apollard @ manhattanmedia.com ACCOUNTS MANAGER Kathy Pollyea

HOLIDAY PRESENTATION – 7 PERFORMANCES ONLY DEC 18, 23 mat, 27, 30 mat JAN 1, 3 mat, 8

“A kid-friendly spectacle!”

kpollyea @ manhattanmedia.com

Manhattan Media CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD Richard Burns

TIME OUT NEW YORK KIDS

EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT Hilary Vartanian

The acclaimed English-language production that the New York Post calls “a holiday classic” returns.

Tickets start at $25 with Orchestra seats from $80!

GENERAL MANAGER - OPERATIONS Shawn Scott ASSISTANT TO THE CHAIRMAN Clara Quiroga DIRECTOR OF DIGITAL Dennis Rodriguez New York Family is a division of Manhattan Media, publishers of AVENUE magazine, and The Blackboard Awards.

metopera.org 212.362.6000

© 2014 Manhattan Media, LLC | 72 Madison Avenue, 11th Floor New York, NY 10016 | t: 212.268.8600 | f: 212.268.0577 www.manhattanmedia.com

LISTEN TO METROPOLITAN OPERA RADIO 24/7 ON

Photo: Marty Sohl/Metropolitan Opera

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editor’s note

Photo by Kristina Loggia

HE FOR SHE &

SHE FOR HE

Lately, I’ve been reading aloud Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone to my 10-year-old son, Adam, before bedtime. For years, the Potter series—the movies as well as the books—were a reservoir of joy and enchantment and bonding for my daughter and I, and I’ve been hoping for a repeat experience with my son. But the Potter magic never quite took hold of him. And even though he’s now reading it on his own as well, I’m not sure he’s pining for a Hogwarts admissions letter. My daughter, in contrast, sent herself one.

It doesn’t take a literary critic to see that J.K. Rowling’s juggernaut was every bit as popular with girls as boys because it had a female heroine in Hermione, who was just as compelling as Harry. I’m equally a fan of Emma Watson, the actress who embodied Hermione in the Harry Potter movies. In her capacity as a UN Goodwill Ambassador, Watson gave a really good and quite personal speech at the UN in late September, advocating for the HeForShe Campaign—a solidarity movement which hopes to inspire a billion men and boys to embrace equality of all kinds— professional and personal—for women and girls. You can read more about the effort at heforshe.org, though if you’re looking for a way to engage the topic with your children, I suggest starting with her speech.

Our senior editor, Mia Weber, poses with our cover sisters.

I’ve been married now for 16 years. I feel like I’ve had a front row seat on the challenges of being a woman at work and at home. And when I think of my mom’s life and my wife’s life, between them I feel like I’ve seen—in the most personal, glorious, and disturbing ways—how our society has been re-invented and deeply elevated by feminist ideals, and yet how there’s still much ingrained unfairness in how we live and work, and in what we see and do. I’m no saint, but I hope I’ve done and am doing my share to be a fair and generous partner at home and colleague at work.

I accepted Watson’s challenge long before she presented it—on the days my children were born.

We’ll see what happens.

Have a happy November, Eric Messinger Editor, emessinger@manhattanmedia.com

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events & offers

WIN A 2015 UPPABABY

TRAVEL SYSTEM TAKE OUR CHILDCARE SURVEY

UPPAbaby’s VISTA stroller is a popular pick on NYC sidewalks right now, and for many good reasons. It was the only stroller named one of the most innovative products of the year by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA). As the JPMA describes the stroller, its intuitive design makes it easy to fold and allows for multiple configurations, making it as maneuverable as a single stroller, and easily adaptable to your growing family. The VISTA stroller can comfortably hold two UPPAbaby MESA infant car seats, two bassinets, or two toddler seats (rear or forward-facing). To easily transport up to three children, add a PiggyBack Ride-Along board. New York Family is pleased to offer readers the chance to win a 2015 VISTA stroller and a 2015 MESA infant car seat. To enter, take our childcare survey at newyorkfamily.com in the Contests & Giveaways section.

DECEMBER CAMP FAIRS Finding the right summer camp for your child is one of the most special gifts that you, as a parent, can give them. With all the options out there—day or sleepaway, single-sex or co-ed, specialty or general, four weeks or eight—a great way to begin your search and better understand your options is to visit one of our upcoming Camp Fairs, which we sponsor with the American Camp Association of New York and New Jersey. In December, we’ll have one fair on the Upper East Side (12/6) and the Upper West Side (12/7). At each fair, parents can connect with more than 25 camps from 12-3pm.

The camp fairs are great for ages 3-tween, and children are welcome. To learn more and secure your spot, register at newyorkfamily.com/category/camps.

HELP YOUR SCHOOL OR PRINCIPAL WIN A BLACKBOARD AWARD! Nomination deadline is November 10.

Visit blackboardawards.com.

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SIGN UP

FOR OUR FREE E-NEWSLETTERS For local family resources, weekend events, giveaways, and more, you can sign up for newsletters at newyorkfamily.com.

www.newyorkfamily.com

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ATTRACTIONS

FOOD

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Courtesy of Canstruction

THEATER

United States Geological Survey

MUSIC

Courtesy of New York Hall of Science

MUSEUMS

Courtesy of New Victory Theater

family fun

Great Events for November Clockwise from left: Nature’s Fury, “The Magic Flute,” Gingerbread Village, and Canstruction

By Sohee Kim

THE MAGIC FLUTE

NOVEMBER 1-9 [Ages 8+] The Isango Ensemble will perform a reimagined version of Mozart’s opera masterpiece “The Magic Flute” at The New Victory Theater. The performance will be sung in English accompanied

by South African storytelling. Additionally, it will feature township percussion, an orchestra of marimbas and a cast of over 30 vibrant voices. This mix of western and South African arts will create a brilliant fusion within a fairy tale. $15-25; Various times. 209 West 42nd Street, 646-2233010, newvictory.org

Canstruction is an international charity competition where people all around the world gather to compete in designing and building a giant structure made entirely from full cans of food. At the close of the competition all of the unopened canned food will be donated to the City Harvest. The contest will highlight the creativity and compassion of architects, engineers and students. The philosophy of the competition is to raise public awareness about world hunger and those in need.

Suggested donation one canned food item; Various times. Brookfield Place, 200 Vesey Street, canstruction.org

CANSTRUCTION

MUSLIM ARTS FESTIVAL

NOVEMBER 6-20 [All Ages] The world’s most inventive and imaginative food charity will be returning to Brookfield place again in November.

NOVEMBER 8-9 [Some Events All Ages; Some Events 5+] The Children’s Museum of Manhattan will celebrate Muslim cultures through different styles of storytelling and a

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range of performances and activities available at the museum this month. On November 8, a Bangladeshi American Muslim storyteller, Arif Choudhury, will share stories from his life and growing up with Muslim traditions. Additionally, on November 8-9, there will be arts and craft sessions where kids can create a 3D architectural structure inspired by mosques around the world, and also a create-your-own heroes and heroines stories session. Or, join the Muslim-American author, Fawzia Gilani, for a storytelling session about Cinderella told in the Muslim world. On November 9 only, Saung Budava, an Indonesian dance group, will tell traditional stories through Muslim dance and music.

Free with admission; Various times. 212 West 83rd Street, 212-721-1223, cmom.org

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10 GREAT EVENTS

family fun continued from page 10

NOVEMBER 13 [All Ages] What better way to celebrate the upcoming holiday season than to go to the largest gingerbread village in the world at the New York Hall of Science! This village weighs 1.5 tons, measures 450 square feet, and is made entirely of gingerbread, icing, and candy. The village is estimated to include 3,000 lbs of icing, 600 lbs of candy from 14 different countries, and 600 lbs of gingerbread dough.

The village includes 1,000 gingerbread houses, a skating rink, six gingerbread cable cars, and more! $11 for adults, $8 per child; 4-7pm. Flushing Meadows Corona Park, 47-01 111th street, Queens, 718-699-0005, nysci.org

BROOKLYN CHILDREN’S BOOK FAIR NOVEMBER 15 [All Ages] Come meet your favorite local authors and illustrators at the eighth annual Brooklyn Children’s Book Fair at the Brooklyn Museum. This book fair will feature a variety of storybooks, picture books, graphic novels, and for the first time, books for young adults.

There will also be over 30 Brooklyn authors and illustrators to meet. In addition to meet-and-greet sessions, there will also be hands-on arts and crafts and fun photo opportunities available for the kids.

Free; 12-4pm. 200 Eastern Parkway, 718-638-5000, brooklynmuseum.org

NATURE’S FURY OPENS NOVEMBER 15 [All Ages] It’s difficult to understand why there are earthquakes, volcanoes, tornadoes, and hurricanes on our planet. In Nature’s Fury: The Science of Natural Disasters at AMNH, kids will learn about what causes natural disasters and explore what the consequences are. These natural phenomena will be taught through interactive displays and

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animations where kids can generate a virtual volcano, monitor earthquakes worldwide, and manipulate a model earthquake fault.

Free for members; 10 am to 5:45 pm. Central Park West at 79th Street, 212-769-5100, amnh.org

AT THE KIDS’ TABLE NOVEMBER 22 [Ages 8+] Journey back in time to discover what Thanksgiving food and festivities were like in the colonial era. After learning about Thanksgiving’s history and studying related artifacts, kids will get a chance to make their own mini apple pies with a mixture of past and present-day flavors. They will also use kitchen tools from the past to get a sense of what cooking in the past felt like. This exciting two-hour cooking and history class will be taught by Sarah Lohman, a historical gastronomist. $15 per child and $10 per member child; 2pm. 170 Central Park West at Richard Gilder Way, 212-873-3400, nyhistory.org

WHO IS TITO PUENTE? NOVEMBER 22 [Ages 12 and Under] Ernesto Antonio “Tito” Puente was an American salsa musician and Latin jazz composer. He was known as the “King of Latin Jazz,” and was able to fuse styles and put a spin on traditional Latin music through his big band. Join JLCO bassist Carlos Henriquez and the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra with Wynton Marsalis to explore Puente’s legacy. Puente is remembered by many jazz musicians as an inspiring figure who has won five GRAMMY awards and has covered an extensive range of music over the course of his career.

events

GINGERBREAD LANE

$10; 1 pm & 3pm. Broadway at 60th Street, 212-2589800, lc.lincolncenter.org

A SPINNING PLANET NOVEMBER 22 [Ages 6-12] The Little Orchestra Society, in association with New York City Center, will bring you a spectacular performance of classical music, modern dance and ballet in “The Four Seasons: A Spinning Planet.” This collaborative piece, with music played by the orchestra and dance choreographed by “punk ballerina” Karole Armitage, will teach kids about our planet. The fables about the Earth will be expressed through this unique combination of music, ballet, and modern dance. $18-90; 11am & 1pm. 130 West 56th Street (Between 6th and 7th Avenues); 212-971-9500, littleorchestra.org

WINTER’S EVE DECEMBER 1 [All Ages] New York’s largest outdoor holiday festival, Winter’s Eve, is back for its 15th year! Come and get into the holiday spirit with an array of free musical performances, outdoor delicious food tastings, marching bands, ice sculpting and fun activities for everyone. The event is expected to attract more than 20,000 people to Lincoln Square. You and your family will be prepared for the holiday season in no time.

Free; 5:30-9pm. Broadway from Time Warner Center at Columbus Circle to 68th Street, 212-581-3774, winterseve.nyc

For more event picks for families, check out our Family Calendar at newyorkfamily.com/events

www.newyorkfamily.com

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scoop

KEEPING PARENTS IN THE KNOW

COOKBOOK National Geographic Kids Cookbook: A Year-Round Fun Food Adventure Noted chef Barton Seaver, a leader in the sustainable foods movement and a National Geographic Fellow, has partnered with the company to publish his first book for junior chefs: National Geographic Kids Cookbook: A Year-Round Fun Food Adventure. Broken down chronologically by month, the book offers recipes (and crafts!) that tie into the seasons and holidays, along with fun facts and trivia and ways to go green. Though the book is aimed at ages 8–12, the recipes aren’t just for kids. With dishes like West African mafe, Italian asparagus with Parmesan, and roasted lemony chicken breasts, Seaver offers dishes for all the members of the family. kids.nationalgeographic.com

BABY GEAR Stokke x aden+anais Popular baby gear company Stokke recently announced a partnership with baby and lifestyle brand aden+anais (known for its 100 percent cotton muslin products), which will offer infant bedding as soft as it is stylish for the Stokke Sleepi Crib’s (a unique piece of baby gear that is designed to expand as your child grows) various sizes. The Stokke Oval Crib Sheet Collection was released last month with three fun prints: “Twinkle,” “Lovely,” and “Night Sky.” The Sleepi Bed grows with a child from birth to about 10 years, making it a long-lasting centerpiece for the child’s bedroom. Parents can also buy swaddles, blankets, nursing covers, and more from aden+anais in addition to the Sleepi sheets. stokke.com/USA & adenandanais.com

SCIENCE RESOURCE BioBus Like a real-life Magic School Bus, the BioBus, a 1974 transit bus equipped with $100,000 worth of research-grade microscopes and staffed by Ph.D. scientists, is Cell Motion Laboratory’s flagship experiment in creating a kid-friendly laboratory on wheels. BioBus gives students in the NYC area the opportunity to work side-by-side with real scientists and explore their environment with professional equipment. Almost every day of the school year, the BioBus parks in front of a local school, giving the students that board the chance to use a phase-contrast video microscope to make movies of crawling amoeba, and more! We have a feeling even Ms. Frizzel and the gang would be envious! biobus.org

PARTY SUPPLIES

KIDS CLOTHES

Imagination Lane Created

by Deanna Magenheim, the founder of NYC’s own Let’s Gogh Art, Imagination Lane is a new online retail site for parents to shop for unique kids’ party décor and favors, gifts, and toys.

From craft activity sets to cute dishware to themed favor packs (think fun motifs like spa and superhero), you can essentially find all of your birthday party needs in one chic place! Magenheim has personally looked for specialty vendors and fun items that aren’t so ubiquitous, as she believes that kids’ gifts and favors can be as chic as their adult counterparts! imaginationlanenyc.com

King of Harts by Melissa Joan Hart In response to noticing “a lack of cool, casual, and functional clothing options” in the boys clothing market, actress (and former NYF cover-mom) Melissa Joan Hart and her husband Mark Wilkerson have created a clothing line called King of Harts in collaboration with talented children’s clothing designer, Souad Acha.

Inspired by Hart and Wilkerson’s three “mud puddle jumping, beach loving, frog-catching” sons, King of Harts is a boys clothing line with a vintage look that’s made in the USA. At present, only tees are available for purchase, with jeans, outerwear, and potentially girls’ pieces to be released in the coming seasons. kingofharts.com

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FOR MORE TIPS ON LOCAL RESOURCES FOR FAMILIES, CHECK OUT NEWYORKFAMILY.COM www.newyorkfamily.com

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treats

TO GIVE & GIVE THANKS

As you gather your family together to share a delicious meal and spread gratitude, set the scene (and the table) for a fabulously festive Thanksgiving with our cornucopia of gifts!

By Mia Weber

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1. Kitchen Aid: Entice the youngest members of the family to pitch in with the Thanksgiving meal preparations by offering them a cool apron to wear while cooking. Not only will Williams-Sonoma’s Thanksgiving Turkey Apron for kids keep youngsters’ holiday outfits spic-and-span, but it will help create a festive mood and make them feel included in contributing to the day. $29.95, williams-sonoma.com 2. The Name Game: There’s no reason that “kid-friendly” and “sophisticated” have to be mutually exclusive when it comes to a holiday tabletop. And Mark and Graham’s Linen Satin Stitch Cocktail Napkins are the perfect example. The linen napkins promise to be super-soft, super-absorbent, and totally machine-washable (making them great for kiddos)—plus, the look is one of understated elegance (and is customizable when it comes to monogram and color options). $32 for a set of four; markandgraham.com 3. Treat Yourself: This Thanksgiving, the gourmet crisped rice makers at Treat House are serving up some new festive treats in harvest flavors. Prepare to feast on bites of Pumpkin Pie Spice, Turkey Caramel Sea Salt, and Candied Orange Cranberries. And in keeping with the spirit of the season, 10 cents from every treat purchased will be donated to the Food Bank for New York City. $2.25 per treat; $24 for a 12-pack; treathouse.com 4. This Must Be The Place: Add some crafty panache to your tabletop with Meri Meri’s Thanksgiving Placecards (a set of 10) from Land of Nod. The set includes pilgrimshaped place cards in male and female designs, each bearing a blank banner for writing in guest’s names. $12.95, landofnod.com

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5. Creative Cookies: Well-known as a sweet treat staple in NYC, Eleni’s is at it again with their seasonally inspired Color Me Turkey Cookie with Markers set. As with all Eleni’s Color Me cookies, this kit lets you decorate artisan sugar cookies with edible markers—so each sugary turkey is totally unique. Plus, cookies are made in a nut-free environment and are certified Kosher. $58.50 for 21 cookies and seven markers; elenis.com 6. Festive Flock: Planning an all-day marathon celebration for Thanksgiving? Keep little ones occupied with a fun craft! The Paper Source’s Turkey Puppet Kit—which includes paper bags, pre-cut shapes, assorted papers, googly eyes, and templates for five puppets—is the perfect activity for kids to do together! Bonus points if you can wrangle the kids into putting on an after-dinner show for the grown-ups! $15.95, papersource.com

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7. Home Plate: Complete with rustic, patchwork-style turkey tableaus, Pottery Barn Kids’ BPA-free and dishwasher-safe melamine plates are the perfect way to make young guests feel special—plus each different style offers up a message of something to be thankful for.

Snap up the Food, Sun, Family, and Friends designs for a complete set. $6.60 each, potterybarnkids.com 8. The Dude Abides: They say the right tee-shirt really ties an outfit together—and none more so than this cheeky pick for toddlers from Old Navy. Perfect for little dudes to rock as they gobble up their dinner and sip their non-alcoholic White Russians (read: milk), this 100 percent cotton crewneck comes in an aptly named Squash hue and is sure to elicit a few giggles from any “Big Lebowski”-loving parents at the dinner table. $8, oldnavy.com

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www.newyorkfamily.com

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Interactive Fairytale Hour

Sundays in FiDi!

at Green PineIvyStreet School Schools all ages

programming by

| 10am-11am $40/family

Green Ivy Enrichment

Green Ivygreenivyschools.com Schools Pine Street School, 25 Pine Street (btwn William & Nassau)

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MUSIC OF THE HEART

Photo by Karilyn Sanders Photography

special place

Young students enjoy an interactive show at a Little Maestros class.

At Little Maestros, The City’s Youngest Musicians & Dancers Get Their First Taste Of Pop-Rock & Music Education

By Nicole Goldstein As a baby is taken out of his stroller, he looks around and takes in the room. His eyes light up as he sees the instruments and band members welcoming everyone inside. He starts clapping and dancing before the class even starts.

As parents and their babies trickle in, the anticipation and happiness is practically tangible, filling the room where Little Maestros all started 12 years ago at 344 East 69th Street. It’s not long before the other babies start to feel the energy and, they too, start to smile.

Little Maestros offers a musical learning program for parents and their children. They offer classes for infants, toddlers, and even siblings. Most parents start to enroll their children at the age of 3 months. But joining Little Maestros is more than just signing up for a class.

When you enroll at Little Maestros, you become part of Maestroville, as owner and founder Marni Konner describes it. The program provides parents with opportunities to meet people who have kids the same age, and to form friendships and relationships with them.

The class begins with the welcoming ritual and attendance song. This part of the class focuses on relationship building, as the band members go around

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the room making the children—and parents—feel welcome and recognized.

“What’s in the box?” a class leader named Katie asks the class as the children and parents scoot closer to find out. “Drums!”

Each student gets to play with his or her personal drum. These instruments fascinate the little ones. Some decide to shake and bang their drums, while others push them across the floor.

“I got a feeling, wooo hooo, that tonight’s gonna be a good night,” the band members sing while the students play their drums. As they sing, the students become captivated. Several crawl closer to the musicians, while others dance and laugh with their parents. The infectious rhythm of the class is has underscored the program from the very start.

Before she founded Little Maestros, Konner had always loved both music and children. After working in marketing for Atlantic Records in the 90s, she became inspired to put her two passions together, and Little Maestros was born in 2002.

Fast forward 12 years, and Little Maestros has gained a steady and popular following through social media and “Word of Mom,” as Konner says. Parents travel with their children from near and far to participate in the award-winning music class. In 2013, Little Maestros won the Red Tricycle Award for Best Music Class in NYC, and the program also holds the title of Best Music Class from Nickelodeon’s Parents Pick Awards. Of course, the momentum of success is thanks largely to Konner’s passion for the Little Maestros’ mission.

“I put my heart and soul into this company and I truly love what I do. I love the people who work here, the people who come here, the music we sing, and continued on page 20 www.newyorkfamily.com

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I love the curriculum,” she says. “It really is a dream come true, I’m just blessed.”

Little Maestros has also grown in many ways since its founding. The company now has multiple locations throughout the city, with more teachers, songs, and instruments than ever. Plus, parents can hire Little Maestros to perform at their child’s birthday parties, play groups, and outdoor activities.

During Little Maestro classes, adults are just as important as the children. “We try to appeal to the adults as well as the kids, because they feed off of each other,” Konner says. If the parents get involved in class, the children will follow in their steps and get the most out of Little Maestros. The classes help children build self-esteem, gross motor development, and phonetic awareness; and they also teach respect, responsibility, and many other important lessons.

At Little Maestros, everything is early childhood educator-approved. Students are entertained by a live band that plays a variety of musical genres, and enjoy musical story time and a puppet show. Each week they learn language development, and are introduced to a different shape, number, color, animal sound, or sign language, all through music, Konner explains. “Music is one of the first things that you can introduce to babies and can truly enjoy it with your child,” she adds.

The children even get to play age-appropriate instruments along with the band. “Anything that you can shake or tap, we’ve got it,” Konner says.

A great deal goes into making the classes run smoothly, and what appears to be effortlessly.

Performers are comfortable and proud to perform the

HudsonWay EST. 2005

curriculum, Konner says, adding that this ultimately translates to a topnotch performance.

“It’s the real deal, real quality,” she goes on to explain. “Our crown jewel is the caliber of our talent and the quality of our original music that, at this point, the class runs so seamlessly…that the performers make Little Maestros founder, Marni Konner. [it] look effortless, but there is so much that goes into their training and carrying the Little Maestros philosophy.”

Finally, at the end of each class there is a dance party where the children can let loose and boogie down, followed by a calming ritual that includes bubbles and soft music. As the bubbles float throughout the room, the children chase after them trying to pop and catch them. Each and every child will leave the class with a smile on their face, and a song buzzing in their brains.

FOR MORE INFO ON LITTLE MAESTROS, VISIT LITTLEMAESTROS.COM.

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a good idea

SANTA’S

REVIEWER Photo by Andrew Schwartz

Buoyed By His Love Of Toys, Local Dad & Journalist Jim Silver Has Created The Ultimate Shopping App & Website—TTPM—For Parents Seeking Reviews Of All Things Play

By Emanuelle Block

TTPM founder Jim Silver.

While playing a toy company executive pondering toys’ “fun factor” in the family film favorite “Big,” Tom Hanks declares: “I don’t get it!” And he has a point—it’s hard to tell just what makes a toy fun and popular. Even the hottest trend can leave a parent wondering if their child will actually enjoy it when the box is opened.

But parents, wonder no more! Real life toy expert Jim Silver has the answers.

With 30 years in the business covering the toy industry at consumer and trade magazines, in 2008, Silver started TTPM, a website designed to help toy buyers make smarter choices. Even educated shoppers see too many toys gathering dust on their children’s shelves. To avoid these purchasing pitfalls, TTPM helps ensure that every new item will be a big hit with your kids.

“We started TTPM as a toy review website featuring photos, write-ups, and short video reviews,” Silver explains in his bright and playful Manhattan offices, filled floor-to-ceiling with thousands of toys, games, gadgets, and gear.

“As people research what they plan to buy, still photos don’t tell the whole story of a toy, so we started producing a video for each and every product we review.”

The video reviews (usually 90-120 seconds) explain for whom the toy is geared, the why and how of its fun and enjoyment, as well as its age-appropriateness. “Our viewers want to

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know exactly what they’re getting and they don’t want to waste money.” Having studied consumer behavior, TTPM also implemented a price comparison tool to the site. With one click, the shopper can view a toy’s review, check which retailers have it in stock, be notified when it goes on sale, then link to the retailers for purchase.

“We make it easy—it’s everything you need to know for a one-stop shop,” Silver says. Starting with an impressive 2 million views in 2010, TTPM now produces over 5,000 video reviews per year, and their digital traffic grew to upwards of 100 million video views last year.

Riding on the momentum of their success in toys, TTPM expanded the website to include baby products and gear, books, kids’ electronics and video games, sporting goods, and adult party games. Most recently, they even started pet toy reviews—revealing that what looks good to a pet owner is not always fun for Fido. Consumers can read reviews even before products arrive on shelves. With honest and candid assessments, TTPM is well-respected by manufacturers. If a negative review is published, companies often fix or alter the product or instruction manual to address the complaint.

The new, free TTPM Shop for Kids smartphone app allows consumers to do all the necessary research for kids’ products in one place. Users www.newyorkfamily.com

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“We make it easy— it’s everything you need to know for a one-stop shop.” can search for items, watch video reviews, view product ratings, and compare current prices at leading retailers, before tapping to purchase.

The app also offers optional notification on sales, allowing users to receive alerts when products go on sale or drop to a pre-specifi ed price point.

It also has a built-in scanner so you can scan an item in-store.

With thousands of products sent to TTPM for review, where do the products go after they publish a video? Socially-minded, TTPM makes weekly toy donations to children’s charities, like Kids in Distress, and local afterschool centers.

Nowhere is the company’s fun-loving and community mindedness more apparent that in Silver’s office, where a 2-foot-high LEGO Santa Claus—which he’d received as a gift—peers down at him from a shelf above his desk. “I have always loved toys and I was a huge board-game player

growing up,” Silver says with a smile. “I still own many of my original toys, even my first Monopoly set.” With this genuine passion for the industry, it’s quite apparent Silver is in his element, as is his team of fellow toy-enthusiasts.

In fact, the loyal staff has nearly doubled in size recently, and the company culture reflects their mission. “Everyone in our office loves toys and we love what we do,” Silver says, hugging an oversized stuffed Olaf—the-snowman from Disney’s “Frozen.” He describes the business dress code as “classic college dormitory,” noting: “We are casual, we like to play with toys!”

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT TTPM VISIT TTPM.COM!

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activity of the month

PLAYING FOR KEEPS Picking Up An Instrument As A Child Can Lead To A Myriad Of Developmental & Life-Long Benefits

By Felicia Czochanski Turtle Bay Music School www.newyorkfamily.com

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iving in a creative city like New York can open doors to amazing opportunities in the music world. As the home to some of the most revered and respected musicians, music programs, and music halls, the city can inspire people of all ages to start making beautiful music of their own.

Research has shown that the benefits gained from learning to play an instrument are many, especially in very young musicians, down to age 3. These benefits have been shown to cultivate essential life skills that help these little musicians excel academically, socially, and psychologically.

We spoke with some of New York’s leading musical and psychological experts to hear more about how learning to play a melody can lead to life-long success.

ACADEMIC BENEFITS One of the most incredible things about a child’s study of music is that by learning to play an instrument, he or she has mastered learning another language. For ambitious young musicians, this type of intelligence comes almost naturally, as their native language development is still in its early stages. It is much more difficult for an adult to achieve fluency in a different language than a child, which is why many bilingual parents choose to teach their toddlers both languages while that part of their brain is developing.

This methodology relates to musical ability as well, says Lisha Lercari, the director of Music and the Brain (MATB), a non-profit program that offers public school students the tools to learn and play music through classroom keyboard instruction. “Three- to 5-year-old students are the most advanced kids of any level,” Lercari says. “They get through their books the quickest and retain what they are learning.”

Learning music can also spark a child’s curiosity, and a subsequent long-term love of learning.

“Learning something new, such as how to play an instrument, can encourage and excite curiosity in young students,” says Julie Rulyak, executive director of the Turtle Bay Music School. Encouraging small children to embrace their natural curiosity is a crucial learning technique that will enhance all aspects of their lives, including academic learning, as they will begin to question why things are the way they are.

“In some cases, some students have been practicing analysis, and they think about how they can do something better than the way they’ve been doing it,” says Scott Taylor, the Young People’s Division manager at the Lucy Moses School at the Kaufman Music Center. A child having the ability to self-analyze so early on in life shows a lot of sophistication and maturity, especially for toddlers. “Studying music causes young students to focus inward, because memorizing the music shows that they’ve really internalized and understood it,” Taylor says. This skill can virtually be applied to anything that the child will learn in life, especially in the academic realm.

DISCIPLINARY BENEFITS The skills children develop when learning how to play, and eventually master, an instrument, become instilled in their memory, and directly correlate to better academic study skills and methods of learning.

“The process that kids go through while learning how to play music has a direct effect on their ability to pay

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(Top) Diller-Quaile School of Music; (Inset) Turtle Bay Music School

attention and to attend to tasks much more quickly than kids who don’t,” says Lecari. “It is because of what you have to do when playing music. It gets you prepared to pay attention, because you have to understand the music you’re listening to, and to gain the memory skills to actually remember all that you are learning.”

However, there is a caveat: These skills can only be mastered if the child has self-discipline. Taylor gives an example of two of his students who started their musical practice at the ages 4.5 and 5.

“The students, who are siblings, wake up early and practice their instruments for half an hour before school each day,” Taylor says. “By the time they get to school, they are ready to go, they are not entering groggy and waking up later during class because the process of playing music has already awakened their brains.”

Children who have been playing an instrument from a young age tend to be self-disciplined and responsible. If a child has started playing music by age 3, he or she has been taking that instrument out of its case every day to practice for years before reaching a grade level that expects them to complete a heavy workload and manage their time. Overcoming these challenges is much more feasible when a child has been “practicing” those values for years.

“There are endless disciplinary benefits from learning to play music, especially from a young age, because learning to work through a piece of music teaches [kids] how to work through challenges in a consistent way,” says Dr. Joshua Brown, PhD, assistant professor in the department of psychology at Fordham University Rose Hill, as well as an NYC dad with two cello-playing sons.

Kirsten Morgan, executive director at the Diller-Quaile School of Music adds: “Over time, [children] develop purposeful focus, critical thinking and problem solving skills, self-discipline, perseverance, and resilience through studying an instrument.”

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PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS

SOCIAL BENEFITS

Mastering the capability to display one’s emotions and express oneself through words is something that many children struggle with. Brown, who has studied early childhood development, notes: “It is a highly valuable thing for kids to learn a way of expressing themselves through a language that is not spoken, because it provides a channel for a child to express him or herself in a way they might not be able to do through other forms of communication.”

When young children learn how to play a musical instrument, there are added social and emotional, as well as psychological benefits. “There are very direct benefits from encountering these challenges and dealing with them in a consistent way: The opportunity to learn about themselves as learners, learning how they can best marshal their attention, and learning how they can keep their frustration in check when they are challenged,” Brown adds.

Thus in this respect, playing an instrument at a young age helps these children start the process of self-discovery many years before most even begin considering their true interests and the way they learn best. Similarly, it allows them to have confidence in themselves, especially when facing a difficult task. “Music, more so than other recreational activities, teaches them to push through challenges and gain a sense of themselves, while also showing them that they have the ability to master something difficult,” Brown says.

Music has long been credited for bringing people together, and Rulyak’s experience at the Turtle Bay Music School shows that this still very much the case. “In our programs here at the school, families are absolute participants in their child’s music education,” Rulyak says. “We have families who come every week to hear the kids play and see what they’ve been learning. We have different workshops that can create bonds between parents, siblings, and cousins as they work together to learn a piece. Then when they go home, I have no doubt that they take the time to practice together.”

Young music students are introduced to many different types of relationships as they continue with their musical practice. They must learn how to work together with others, whether it’s their music teachers, other ensemble or group lesson members, and their parents and families with whom they may practice at home.

“The parent is instrumental in a young child’s musical studies,” Taylor says.

When small children learn a musical instrument, it can benefit the entire family, as music study and family support become intertwined.

“Creating a strong family support system can be really transformational in what a child gets out of music, and other areas of life, and how well they can excel in what they are learning,” Rulyak says.

WHERE TO MAKE SOME NOISE IN NYC GET STARTED (LITTLE ONES) 74th St. MAGIC 74magic.com 92Y 92y.org apple seeds appleseedsnyc.com Applause New York (0-5) applauseny.com Eastside Westside Music Together eswsmusictogether.com Gymboree Music gymboreeclasses.com Gymtime Rhythm & Glues gymtime.net Hands On! handsonformusic.com The JCC in Manhattan jccmanhattan.org Kids MusicRound languageworkshopforchildren.com Kidville Kidville.com Little Maestros littlemaestros.com Moey’s Music Party moesymusicparty.com Music for Aardvarks musicforardvarks.com Music Together in the City musictogethernyc.com School For Strings schoolforstrings.org The Early Ear the earlyear.com TLB Music tlbmusic.com WeBop At Jazz At Lincoln Center jalc.org

GET SERIOUS (OLDER KIDS) 92Y School of Music: From preschool through high school, students learn orchestral instruments, piano (on Steinways!), guitar, drums, and voice, as well as composition, film scoring, music theory and songwriting.

Pick your style—classical, jazz, rock or hip-hop. Private, group lessons and performance ensembles are available, along with multiple performance opportunities and master classes. 92Y teachers are dedicated educators, as well as professional performers and recording artists. 92y.org Church Street School for Music and Art: Church Street School offers private, partner, and group instrumental lessons on all instruments taught by a world class faculty.

Students as young as four can join the Piano Discovery class, while elementary, middle, and high school students www.newyorkfamily.com

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can choose from a variety of classes and private lessons.

Adults can learn a new instrument or rekindle an old passion.

Join Church Street as the school celebrates its 25th year as the only not-for-profit community school for the arts in Lower Manhattan. churchstreetschool.org Lucy Moses School at Kaufman Music Center: New York’s largest community arts school offers private instrument lessons as well as a huge variety of music, dance and theater classes for kids of all ages and skill levels— from toddlers just beginning to learn to teens aspiring to attend a conservatory. Come lay the foundation for a lifetime of music! Located on the Upper West Side, Lucy Moses School is known for its excellent teachers, warm atmosphere and unparalleled performance opportunities. kaufmanmusiccenter.org Third Street Music School Settlement: Third Street Music School Settlement changes lives and its community by providing access to world-class music, arts, and dance instruction to students of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of ability or economic circumstances.

Celebrating 120 years of service, Third Street is the oldest community music school in the nation and offers early childhood programs including a music-centered preschool; afterschool, Saturday and summer programs for children and teens; and daytime and evening programs for adults. thirdstreetmusicschool.org Turtle Bay Music School: Turtle Bay Music School is a 90-year-old community music school that offers private and group lessons for all ages and skill levels. TBMS is committed to meeting the needs of each student, and its community is supportive and vibrant. Children 18 months and up enjoy Tuneful Sequence classes, Orff ensembles, and instruction in over 20 instruments and voice, taught by experienced, caring faculty members. With strong financial aid and outreach programs, TBMS makes music accessible to all. tmbs.org November 2014 | New York Family

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soul sisters “Girls” Star And Artist Jemima Kirke & Renowned Doula And Musician Domino Kirke Discuss Motherhood, City Living, And Their Creative Career Paths

T

By Mia Weber • Photos by Kristina Loggia

hough one has cotton-candy-hued tresses and an infectious laugh, and the other an earth-angel vibe and soft-spoken manner—and one’s primarily known as wild-child Jessa Johansson on HBO’s “Girls,” and the other has found her calling as a birth doula—the moment you see them together, the family resemblance between Jemima Kirke and her sister Domino Kirke is abundantly clear.

It’s not just the similarities in their striking faces, or their lilting British accents, or the myriad of intricate tattoos they both have; it’s also the way the sisters act together, whether they’re catching up in Domino’s homey kitchen or fluidly playing off of each during a photo shoot that suggests a long-standing ease and closeness.

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Hair styling by Vanessa Heshima Sims. Makeup by Romy Soleimani.

Domino & Jemima wear their own pieces throughout.

www.newyorkfamily.com

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J

emima, 29 (who considers herself a painter first and an actress second), and Domino, 31 (a birth doula and director at Carriage House Birth, as well as an accomplished musician) grew up in Manhattan after spending their early years in England. Domino and Jemima, who also have an older brother and a younger sister, are the children of two parents in creative fields—their mother, Lorraine Kirke, owns the downtown vintage store Geminola and their father, Simon Kirke, is the famed drummer of the band Bad Company (among others)—and were close growing up, sharing a room until Domino was 13. Now, they share the special commonality of being mothers raising young children in Brooklyn while pursuing distinctive career paths. “[Motherhood] is a point of identifiable-ness,” Jemima says.“We can identify on that. If we ever fight, or don’t understand each other, or can’t relate, there’s always something we can appreciate in each other—that we’re both mothers.”

Domino’s son is 5-year-old Cassius, and Jemima’s children (with her husband Michael Mosberg) are 4-year-old Rafaella and almost-2-year-old Memphis.

As you might expect, both sisters very much enjoy the phenomenon of watching their little ones grow.

And when asked, during our rainy-day photo shoot at Domino’s cozy Williamsburg home, if she and Jemima ever trade parenting tips, both crack a slight smile and trade knowing glances.

“I’ve sent you emails and articles. I think we’ve both sent each other articles we think are good,” Jemima answers first. “We do it virtually,” Domino chimes in, as Jemima continues: “That’s how I do it with all my friends though—just as a woman or a mother, you don’t want to say: ‘This is what you should do.’ Because no one knows the answer. You just send a piece of information and say: ‘Take from it what you like—or nothing!’ I don’t think anyone should be telling each other what to do.” And to settle the matter with an example from her work as a doula, Domino adds: “I get so many emails from mums who say: ‘Am I doing it wrong?’…So I really make a point of not suggesting, because I know how sensitive it is.”

On the surface, Domino and Jemima seem to be the perfectly imperfect poster girls for the so-called “hipster” or “edgy” Brooklyn lifestyle, but the picture they both paint of their lives—the things they enjoy doing with their children and the challenges they face in sometimes spreading themselves thin among their careers, passions, and responsibilities as mothers—is refreshingly centered and straightforward. “[My son] loves to draw, he loves Capoeira, he loves his really big classroom,” Domino says of Cassius. “He loves his cousins. He’s really into family and loves knowing that someone’s related to him…

He has second-cousins in England and he talks about them even though he’s only met them once.”

In the same vein, Jemima reports inquisitive and mischevious behavior in her kiddos as they start to become individuals. “Rafa is really exciting to be

around and [it’s exciting] to watch her. Four is a really fun age because everything she says and does is new—it’s something she’s picked up,” Jemima says.

“And Memphis is just—terrible 2s. He’s a regular toddler—he’s loud, destructive, and irresistible.”

While Jemima and Domino make no secret of the fact that playing with LEGOs and making trips to local parks and playspaces are parts of their day-to-day, they also both maintain fiercely defined identities outside of motherhood, a quality that Jemima credits to their own mother.

“What I’ve learned from my own parents is that your child can adapt to your life, there’s a compromise when you become a parent. ‘Mother’ does not have to be my whole identity. My mother brought us into her world,” Jemima says. “I like the idea that kid culture and adult culture can meet somewhere harmonious in the middle.”

To say that their lives are a harmonious mixture of different facets is an understatement for both Jemima and Domino. For starters, while Domino has been a successful musician since her teenage years, for the past four years she’s been immersed in the tight-knit NYC birth community as a director and founder of Williamsburg’s Carriage House Birth, a role she felt drawn to after having trouble finding resources that spoke to her during her own pregnancy, and then experiencing a long, intense labor while giving birth to her son.

“I was always interested in becoming a midwife, then at my own birth I didn't get the support I’d hoped for, and that changed everything. That's why I became a doula. There's such a need,” she says of her first steps into the wild world of birth support.

“And I just realized that my labor was so long and crazy that I was really good at supporting a woman in labor—it just felt so close to home… I really wanted Carriage House to be a safe space for women to come and have their needs met.”

Domino went on turn her natural affinity for birth support into a full-fledged doula agency with her now-partners Lindsey Bliss (a mother of six) and Samantha Huggins. Carriage House operates on a tier-system and has 30 doulas in its fold. Plus, the collective offers prenatal education, postpartum support, new parenting classes, and more, all in an environment that Domino describes as “earthy” and a “one-stop shop.”

“I think for Williamsburg/Greenpoint/Lower Manhattan—we definitely have our demographic,” she explains. “It’s a real blend of hospital-birthers and home-birthers—but we really are catering to the family that wants to get all of their needs met in one spot… So the families that are coming to us, they like the more homey setting, the more organic setting.”

The spirit of celebrating a woman’s individual needs and choices, especially in regards to maternity and pregnancy, is one that Jemima is in synch with her sister on. Many may recall a provocative (by some viewpoints) photo shoot for Vice that Jemima did while pregnant with her son in 2012—and never one On Norah O’Donnell: Burberry to shy away from honest expression, Jemima London dress; Prada heels. defends continued on page 32

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The Kirke sisters kick back at Domino Kirke’s home.

this choice firmly and unapologetically.

“A lot of people (even women!) criticized me, saying [the photos] were vulgar and distasteful…

The shoot showed me undressed, untouched up, and in character,” Jemima says. “I wanted to do a shoot that did not do the goddess thing. I’m so sick of the artificial, idealistic, glorification shots of pregnant women… And what’s worse is when celebrities do it [because] it’s just one more thing to make the average woman feel shitty about herself when she compares her pregnant body to theirs."

In short, Jemima sees no need to sugar-coat her choices; and the same goes for her philosophy on urban parenting as well.

“I do love raising my kids in the city because I feel like the city is so diverse in the types of lives people lead. They’re exposed to so many different aspects of life… You’ve got the parks, but you also have the streets. That’s good for a kid to be exposed to that,” she says. “I think that kind of exposure teaches a child tolerance, openness, and awareness for all walks of life. I would also never want my children to grow up thinking everyone lives as charmed a life as they do. Even the kid in the neighborhood next door.”

It’s a similar line of thinking about the city’s many sides that led both Jemima—who moved to Carroll Gardens from the East Village after becoming pregnant with her daughter because she wanted her kids to grow up with a sense of community—and Domino to consciously make their homes in Brooklyn.

“I feel like Brooklyn is a little more earthy, a little more grounded and spread out. Williamsburg is crazy—but I feel like my kid has a real sense of home, whereas when I lived in Manhattan as a kid, I would go outside and that was my home. I fed off of all the people running all over each other,” Domino says. “So I like to think that [my son] has a bit of a calmer, grounded upbringing in Brooklyn than I had in Manhattan… This neighborhood is like a village.

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As a single mum it’s really amazing to know that my neighbor has a key to my house and there’s the butcher and the baker—it’s that vibe.”

Brooklyn’s notoriously art-infused ethos also suits the sisters well, as Domino has a quiet passion for music and Jemima focuses on painting. Jemima, who has a BFA in painting from the Rhode Island School of Design, primarily paints portraits (often using her children as subjects) and is currently working on some pieces for the upcoming annual art shows in Miami. As stated on her professional website (jkirke.com), her work “explores the multifaceted layers of character within each of the models and friends who sit for her.”

A perfect example is the beautifully evocative portrait of Domino that serves as cover art for Domino’s album “The Guard,” and sits on Domino’s own professional website showcasing her music (dominokirkemusic.com). And to that point, Domino’s music itself is similarly complex in temperament, a fact that has been shaped by her journey as a mother.

“I don’t have as much ego now, if any! I play music now for fun,” Domino says of how having a child has influenced her music. “Before [having kids] there was a lot of pressure for it to be the thing I do, and somehow I found the balance between being a doula, a mum, and a musician.”

Currently, Domino is working on a record with fellow musician (and close friend) Luke Temple, of the band Here We Go Magic, and they hope to release their project in the spring of 2015. “The record is more electronic than I'm used to. Each song is like a little vignette,” she explains.

In some ways, each piece of the Kirke sisters’ multifaceted lives is like its own unique vignette. With Jemima’s career as a painter and the fourth season of “Girls” slated to hit screens in early 2015, and with Domino busy enjoying her musical projects while developing Carriage House’s newborn care classes and arsenal of post-partum services, it’s easy to envision them as masters of balance, seamlessly jumping from one fascinating tableau to the next. But, as they both carefully emphasize, parenting is usually much more about compromise than about balance.

“When you have a bunch of things you do in your life, or a bunch of things you enjoy doing, or skills, or whatever it is, you spread yourself thin,” Jemima says.

“And sometimes things get neglected because I’m focusing on my kids more heavily that day or that week, so I don’t get to the studio. Or I’m working on-set so I don’t get to see my kids. It’s a sacrifice.”

With a sentiment that many city parents can surely relate to, Domino puts the equilibrium between work and family into a lovely context by noting that it helps to be part of a professional community that often feels like family. “What I love about being a doula is the built in community around it. Birth workers are a very rare breed and we’re a tiny, tiny group,” she says. “There’s no one birth collective that’s better than all the others.

We just all have our place.”

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PARTY CITY There’s No Place Like NYC For A Birthday Féte To Please Any Age Or Interest Edited by Mia Weber

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ew occasions elicit as much focus and attention to detail from young children as their own upcoming birthday parties. So, of course, finding the perfect location and theme is key.

With our comprehensive guide to the most festive party venues in the city, your family is sure to find a happenin’ hot spot that meets all of your birthday child’s requirements for endless fun.

14th Street Y: New Country Day Camp Birthday Parties from the 14th Street Y are a great way for city kids to create the birthday party of their dreams by making their own choices! Kids are afforded the opportunity to design their own programs with activities rooted in sports, nature, performing arts, visual arts, martial arts, gymnastics, science and technology, and more! Plus, the staff takes the workload off of parents, as staff, room rental, activities,

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food, drink, cake, goodie bags, decorations, and invitations are all included. 14streety. org & newcountrydaycamp.org 16 Handles: Come celebrate your little one’s (all ages are welcome) birthday at 16 Handles on the UES. The 16 Handles team can can customize a party just for you.

Please contact their party team at 516551-2271 so they can “Handle” this for you.

16handles.com 74th St. MAGIC: Parents are raving about MAGIC’s new Sports Parties (soccer or football). During the 1.5 hour party, children (ages 3-6) enjoy skill-based primers, an age-appropriate version of the game, and time in the bounce house and on the zip-line, followed by food and cake in MAGIC’s bright and spacious party room.

74magic.com

92Y: 92Y’s Gymnastics Jamboree birthday party takes place in the Gymnastics Studio in the Sky. Kids jump on a tumble track, rock-climb, swing on a zip -line and trapeze, and more. The staff directs kids in age-appropriate activities and the party includes complimentary invitations, a bracelet or mini basketball for each child, a t-shirt for the birthday child, and two one-month gym memberships for the host parents.

92y.org A Family Disco: Deb’s Family Disco’s dance balls are ideal for high-energy kids who love the limelight (and fun for dancing grown-ups too)! Real club and disco lights thrill tots and tweens, while a DJ plays dance games, kids get on the mike, and dancers lead hip-hop

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Advantage Tennis Clubs: Advantage Tennis offers fantastic Tennis Parties for young players. No experience needed— just sneakers. A full hour of fun on the courts, supervised by tennis pros, a gift for each child, and 30 minutes in the lounge to celebrate are all included. advantagetennisclubs.com American Museum of Natural History: Dive through 20,000 leagues of birthday fun in AMNH’s Millstein Hall of Ocean Life at the museum’s Underwater Treasures party for kids ages 4-8. Guests will spot a broad spectrum of sea creatures, including the Hall’s ever-present Great Blue Whale! amnh.org Applause NY: Right from the start, the Hip-Hop Dance Party engages children ages 4-9 years old with an interactive show that includes all their favorite songs with a customized playlist. The party staff are all professional dancers and teaching artists who lead the dance battles, dance games, and teach choreography for a performance at the end for the parents! applauseny.com apple seeds: Get ready for a rockin’ musical party at apple seeds. All 90-minute parties take kids on a musical journey led by a songs for seeds guitarist. Grab an instrument and play along to a themed performance, explore the indoor playground, and enjoy fun interactive activities. appleseedsplay.com The Art Farm: Make-believe and petting zoo fun come together at the Art Farm!

Your guests are in for a real treat when the princess of their choice joins the celebration for dress-up and interactive music games as part of the Princess and Knights theme. All parties are two hours long and include art, a visit to the petting zoo, favors, and food. theartfarms.org Asphalt Green: Celebrate your child’s birthday party at either of Asphalt Green’s locations: Upper East Side or Battery Park City! They provide a range of fun birthday activities (for ages 3 and up) such as sports, swimming, tumbling, cooking, music, and dance.

Choose from three great party packages: Basic, Deluxe, or Extravaganza/Gourmet

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moves. Light-up dance floor favors, musical-themed cakes, and a bar for the grownups gets everyone in the mood. afamilydisco.com

Clockwise from top left: Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy, 74th St. MAGIC, and Broadway Birthday Bashes.

Party. asphaltgreen.org/parties & asphaltgreenbpc.org/parties Ballet Academy East: BAE Ballet Birthday Parties kick off with a fun and creative ballet class with a festive birthday theme.

Children dance a ballet birthday story narrated by the teacher, and starring the birthday child. Dancing is followed by refreshments. Parties include two teachers, a pianist, a hostess, a wand or crown, set-up, cleanup, and balloons. baenyc.com Big Apple Circus: The Big Apple Circus’ popular Signature Birthday Party includes tickets to a performance, free cotton candy or popcorn vouchers, and souvenir signature Big Apple Circus clown noses. It is a birthday party the entire family will enjoy! bigapplecircus.org Bounce!: Long Island’s Bounce! lets partygoers jump on wall-to-wall trampolines, somersault into giant trampoline foam pits, play trampoline dodgeball, and attempt to slam dunk a basketball from a trampoline!

They host parties for ages 2 and up, with special options for ages 6 and under. bounceonit.com/syosset Bowlmor Lanes: Kids’ birthday parties really get rolling at Bowlmor Lanes. Party packages include unlimited bowling, shoe rental, kid-friendly cuisine, juice and soda, a custom cake or cupcakes, gift bags, and a sign-able bowling pin for the birthday boy or girl. bowlmor.com Broadway Birthday Bashes at the PIT: At Broadway Birthday Bashes, the staff will roll out the red carpet at this legendary 99-seat off-Broadway theater,

where you’ll see world class improvisers create an original musical all about the birthday child. VIP options include preshow performers, face painting, balloon art, karaoke, an ice cream buffet, and a brand new three-tier chocolate fountain! broadwaybirthdaybashes.com Bronx Zoo: Go wild with a Bronx Zoo birthday party. Available for ages 2-12, parties include a private room, exhibit tour, and up-close interactions with some of the most beloved zoo residents. Parties are held from October to early June on select Saturdays and Sundays. bronxzoo.com Brooklyn Children’s Museum: The Brooklyn Children’s Museum has many amazing themes, but one of the most popular is Imagination Runs Wild. This birthday celebration takes place in one of the most sought after areas of the Museum, the Totally Tots exhibit.

Discover the magical wonders of the water works pond, visit the sandbox, and enjoy one hour of guided free play with a puppet show! brooklynkids.org Brooklyn Zoo: Parkour parties at NYC’s only Parkour facility include lessons from Ninja Warriors on how to climb the warp wall, flip into a foam pit, climb the rope wall, slide down the fireman’s pole, and more. A spring floor, trampoline, and dance floor bring the movement disciplines together in a cool, fun, and new space. brooklynzoony.com Chelsea Piers: The Ultimate Tykes Challenge is the perfect party for children

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Birthday Parties AT THE ART FARM

Give Your Child a Party They Will Remember Forever Enjoy 2 hours at our eco-friendly farm with our expert staff to run the party for you, including all set up and clean up. The children will enjoy our award winning petting zoo, music, art or one of our themes.

THEMES • Farm Animal Party

• Exotic Animal Party • Princess & Knights Party • Treasure Hunt Party

• Mad Science Party • Farm Foodies Cooking Party • Do It Yourself Party • Weekday Party

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Weekday Party Package Now through Dec. 2014.

The Art Farm In The City 419 East 91st Street 212.410.3117 www.TheArtFarms.org

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b i r t h da y guide continued from page 36 ages 3-5. Preschoolers will have a blast participating in unique activities, including parachute, steal the bacon, multi-sport games, and races. Each party culminates with time in the inflatable bouncy castle! chelseapiers.com Children’s Museum of the Arts: CMA’s Fabulous Animation Birthday parties offer an innovative way to celebrate! Children ages 7-14 sculpt their very own clay creatures, then learn animation basics as they collaborate on a short animated movie in the Media Lab. The two-hour party ends with the world premier screening of the birthday movie! cmany.org Children’s Museum of Manhattan: At CMOM’s PlayWork party, children ages 1-5 can meet Alphie the talking dragon, dress up as a firefighter, and more. During the 90-minute birthday bash, little ones also take part in a special music and art activity before enjoying pizza and cake from Magnolia Bakery. Goody bags include a pass for the child to return to CMOM for free. cmom.org Citibabes: Citibabes’ Jungle Safari-themed birthday party is one of their biggest hits. Enter the Citibabes jungle, complete with blow-up elephants, giraffes, monkeys and more. Catered to each age group, Citibabes Jungle Safari parties are 90 minutes for 15 children, and include a private party room, playground time, a bouncy castle, art project, catered food and drinks, cake, gift bags, balloons, and decorations. citibabes.com Color Me Mine: Tap into your child’s artistic side with a birthday party at Color Me Mine in Tribeca. With more than 100 items to choose from, partygoers design and paint their own masterpieces, creating a lasting memory for years to come. tribeca. colormemine.com Columbus Gym: Celebrate with gymnastics fun at Columbus Gym’s expansive, fully equipped facility. Kids ages 1-12 will enjoy a full hour on the bars, beam, rings, and trampoline while playing games supervised by the trained staff. The last half hour is for food, drinks, and birthday cake. columbusgymnyc.com ConstructionKids: ConstructionKids’ birthday parties—which can be themed in a variety of ways—are smart, unique, and creative.

Children in grades K-4 learn how to hammer safely, then build their own projects to take home. Children are busy for two hours, either at your location in NYC or the CK studio in Brooklyn. constructionkids.com Corbin’s Crusaders: Corbin’s Crusaders offers jam-packed, highenergy sports parties in Central Park or a gym! Your party will include games, sports, top-notch coaches, and lots of running around. One of the most popular parties is the Extreme Sports Party—it includes dodgeball, capture the flag, and flag football for ages 4–14. corbinscrusaders.com Cozy’s Cuts For Kids: A Beauty Bash at Cozy’s is a rite of passage for all NYC stylistas! Parties like the Ultimate Beauty Bash Deluxe and the Backstage Posse Pass Party include hairstyling from Cozy’s Braid Bar Specialists, manicures, and sparkly makeup application. Additional fun includes art projects, dancing, music, pizza, and more. cozyscutsforkids.com

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THE ENTERTAINMENT GAME A Selective List Of NYC’s Awesome Kids’ Party Entertainers CLOWNS Daisy Doodle daisydoodle.com Juliet Schaefer Jeske rednosesnewyork.com Looney Lenny’s looneyluckylennyland.com Sammie and Tudie imaginationplayhouse.com

FACE PAINTING Face Art by Melissa faceartbymelissa.com Faces by Derrick facesbyderrick.com Hearts Face Painting & Balloon Art facepaintingballoontwisting.com Kiki’s Faces and Balloons kikisfacesandballoons.com Party Faces by Rachel partyfacesbyrachel.com

MAGICIANS Amazing Max maxdarwinmagic.com Cardone the Ultimate Vaudeville Magician cardonethemagician.com Gary the Great ahrealmagic.com Magic Al magic-al.com Mario the Magician mariothemagician.com Silly Billy sillybillymagic.com

MUSICIANS Audra Rox audrarox.com Brett Band brettband.com Monkey Monkey Music monkeymonkeymusic.com Mr. RAY mrray.com Rockin’With Andy rockinwithandy.com

SPECIALTY Nick the Balloonatic nicktheballoonatic.com Wendy the Pipe Cleaner Lady thepipecleanerlady.com

The Craft Studio: The Craft Studio has some super unique “Frozen”-themed parties. Each party includes a custom “Frozen” craft for each age group and “Frozen” decorations and add-ons that include an Elsa and Anna inspired braid bar, “Frozen”-themed glitter tattoos, “Frozen” party decor, and more! craftstudionyc.com CuRious Candy: Step it up this year with the sweetest party of them all at CuRious Candy. From custom piñatas to cotton candy cloud centerpieces and edible serving ware, the CuRious experience promises to always surprise and delight. A party favorite is the Cookie Castle party, where guests of all ages get to dream up their own fantasy candy creation. Parties also include mini cotton candy favors, small bites, kiddie cocktails, and champagne for the adults. curiouscandy.com Dave & Buster’s: It’s game day every day at Dave and Buster’s in Times Square. Birthday packages are available for groups of ten or more with special menus, game cards, and unlimited video game upgrades. Plus, your child scores with a D&B gift. daveandbusters.com

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DiMenna Children’s History Museum at the New-York Historical Society: President Washington guides kids on a scavenger hunt through the museum, helping them read the Inaugural Address and sign the Constitution. This Washington can even create tri-corner hats for party guests! A special Washington birthday cake, inspired crafts, gift bags, and balloons complete this truly presidential experience, ideal for ages 7-10. nyhistory.org Discovery Programs: The Pump-up Parkour Party is Discovery’s newest themed birthday party. Children ages 7-10 years will run, jump, climb, and tumble, combining mental and physical strength to conquer obstacles in Discovery’s renovated gym. The two-hour party includes an hour of intense fun in which students will learn how to execute Parkour moves like Tic-Tacs, Safety Vaults, and more. discoveryprograms.com

Dylan’s Candy Bar: You’ll feel like you’ve won the Golden Ticket with a birthday party celebration at Dylan’s Candy Bar on the Upper East Side. Build your own party theme or choose from Sugar Babies, Sweetie Pie, or Sugar Rush party packages. dylanscandybar.com Eastside Tae Kwon Do: The “Star Wars” Party is an amazing party for kids ages 5 and up. Kids are invited to dress as their favorite “Star Wars” characters, and take a class that teaches them how to use a light saber using real sword fighting techniques. All kids take home a foam “light saber.” Pizza and cupcakes are served as well. eastsidetaekwondo.com Fantasma Magic: Abracadabra! An award-winning Fantasma Magic birthday bash will amaze family and friends. The birthday

chocolate with dulce de leche), and even Cheetos (yes, actual Cheetos—infused with white chocolate ganache). Also try Francois Payard for elegant macs (including cakes festooned with the crunchy cookies) or Sugar & Plumm in Greenwich Village for kid-friendly picks.

Cookie Baking: To put an interactive twist on b-day sweets, have the kids bake and decorate cookies themselves! Chloe Doughy—known primarily for their cookie dough subscription and delivery service— offers classes that can be customized for any group size, age range, or dietary preference! They host baking sessions at partner kitchens throughout NYC, and can also bring the party to a location of your choice. And did we mention the results are cookies in flavors like Lavender Lemon, Currant Carrot Cake, and Key Lime Coconut?

Treat House

DELICIOUS CAKE ALTERNATIVES

By Mia Weber When it comes to planning a fresh and fun birthday celebration, there’s no rule that you have to go the traditional cake and ice cream route.

We’ve rounded up some great ideas (and local retailers) to sweeten the deal at any party.

Chocolate Pizza: This sugary twist on a savory classic is sweeping birthday parties across the city. It’s easy to make at home with storebought dough and an array of sweet toppings—or, head to Union Square for a Chocolate Pizza from Max Brenner. Their deluxe version is made with melted milk and white chocolate meteors and an ice cream snowball. Include melting campfire marshmallows as a bonus treat.

Caramel Apples: While caramel apples are naturally suited to the autumn season, there’s no reason you can’t whip up this DIY dessert for birthdays year-round. We love the idea of cooking up caramel sauce (a great activity to do with older kids and tweens) and letting guests dip their apples in an array of toppings. For a decadent local option, head to Red Hook, Brooklyn for seasonal offerings at Baked. Their Caramel Apples are a heavenly combo of farmer’s market-fresh apples dipped in homemade vanilla or maple caramel.

Doughnuts: Doughnuts have been slowly sneaking up on cupcakes as the hot dessert-du-jour—and why shouldn’t they? New York offers a plethora of circular delicacies sure to suit the tastes of the birthday boy or girl as well as all adult chaperones at the party—from the elusive Cronut at the Dominque Ansel Bakery in SoHo to the Doughnuttery’s diminutive delights, in an array of enticing flavors like PB&J and Fruity Breakfast Cereal, at Chelsea Market (plus, the tiny size makes them great take-home favors as well).

Pie: Pie—it’s not just for Thanksgiving anymore! Cake’s often underappreciated cousin has a robust NYC presence and is sure to be a hit at the b-day celebration of any kids with a sweet-tooth. Try rustic—yet innovative—pies from Butter & Scotch (available at various Brooklyn locations, and at Whole Foods Bowery) in kid-friendly flavors like S’Mores as well as parent-pleasers like Bourbon Ginger Pecan.

Brownies: Chocolate lovers can diversify from the standard chocolate cake birthday treat with a yummy bite of brownie. Of course, homemade brownies are often a snap to whip up, but we also recommend Fat Witch (located in Chelsea Market) for their array of flavor variations (think infusions of cherries, walnuts, and more) and commitment to all-natural quality ingredients.

Gelato: An at-home gelato bar is a suave alternative to the sundae bar trend—and super-easy to set up! We love packaged gelato from Talenti (available at Whole Foods, Union Market, and Duane Reade in party-worthy flavors like Mediterranean Mint and Banana Chocolate Swirl. Simply pick up a few pints and let guests top their scoops with sprinkles, nuts, and fruit.

Rice Crispies: Craving a gourmet spin on a bake-sale classic? Treat House on the Upper West Side offers the fun square snack in dozens of cool flavor combinations (see page 16 for their Thanksgiving specials)—like butterscotch sprinkle and dark chocolate chili—as well as TreatPops, ice cream bars, and homemade flavored marshmallows. All of the crispy rice goods are Kosher, gluten-free, and dairy-free. Plus, ten cents of every bite sold will be donated to Food Bank For New York City.

Soda Floats: Step outside the rootbeer box and temp taste buds with locally-made artisan sodas for a unique float bar. Our fave fizzies come from Brooklyn Soda Works—you can snap up bottles on the High Line and at a variety of weekend markets in Brooklyn, plus, they offer catering services—with their refreshing bubbly brews of Apple & Ginger and Grapefruit, Jalapeno & Honey. Just add a dollop of ice cream and a playful party straw!

Macarons: In recent years, it seems like you can barely walk down a street in NYC without passing a tempting window display of candycolored macarons—which naturally makes them to being a perfect birthday treat for kiddos with sophisticated palates. One of our fave mac spots is the Macaron Parlour on the Lower East Side. Here you’ll find crowd-pleasing flavors like Red Velvet, Party Time (salted milk

Cake Pops: The only thing more enticing to a child celebrating their birthday than a cupcake? A cake pop! Turn up the fun with cake pops from Fabipops’ kosher bakery in Brooklyn (pops are available for order online as well)—on top of offering a robust menu of flavors, they can even craft pops to look like the birthday celebrant’s fave celebrities.

Seasonal and themed looks are available as well.

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child becomes the magician’s assistant, and party guests get to participate in a 45-minute magic show. Four unique options fit every budget. fantasmamagic.com FAO Schwarz: Classic birthday parties at FAO Schwarz include traditional games like limbo and the hokey pokey, plus a Toy Solider host and private time on the legendary Big Piano. Kids pick their own theme, so they can be anything from princesses to safari explorers. fao.com Gaga Center: New this season, the Gaga Center introduces Gaga FUEL birthday parties for all Gaga- and electronicsobsessed kids! In this high-energy party, all players get an electronic watchband that tracks all movement during the 90-minute Gaga party. The more you move while playing Gaga, the more fuel points you get! gagacenter.com Galli Theater: Galli Theater’s (now at a new location) “The Favorite-Show and a Party” delivers top children’s theater entertainment that will turn your party into an enchanting fairytale event! Choose from a list of current shows and then leave everything else to their staff! Galli provides an interactive fairytale show, a decorated party room, food, beverages, and a custom cake! Recommended for ages 3-7. gallitheaterny.com Get Coiffed: At the Rocker Girl Party, cool hairstyles, makeup, nail polish, temporary tattoos, hair feathers, and more will make your daughter’s rock star dreams come true. Stylists bring everything but the music to turn your daughter and her friends

UNIQUE KIDS GIFTS & TOYS

CHIC PARTY DECOR

into the very musicians they love to sing and dance to. Guests (ages 5-12) will be rocking and rolling. getcoiffed.com Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn: Kid-friendly Grand Central Oyster Bar Brooklyn accommodates groups of 10-125 in both private and semi-private spaces. While kids nosh on house-made fish sticks, pastas, and fries, adults can indulge in seafood platters, oysters, and more. oysterbarbrooklyn.com Gymboree Play & Music: Princess Playhouse, Little Super Heroes, and Dinosaur Adventure are just some of the popular birthday party themes available at Gymboree’s five Manhattan locations. Choose your child’s favorite theme, and they’ll create a personalized party experience filled with imaginative thematic play. Gymboree specializes in parties for ages 1-5. gymboreeclasses.com Gymtime Rhythm & Glues: Featuring exciting party themes and activities like Tae Kwon Do, guests are sure to get a kick out of your birthday boy or girl’s special day. Parties are 90 minutes and include set-up, clean-up, and tons of gym fun. gymtime.net HiArt: HiArt!’s Candy Sculpture Party is sure to be sweet!

Kids (ages 4 and up) build or paint stupendous abstract environments made entirely of candy. Colors, scents, and flavors abound! Little kids build with their parents while big kids build endlessly—and creatively—on their own! hiartkids.com

CUSTOM PARTY FAVORS

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BIRTHDAY PARTIES & ART CLASSES

GRAND OPENING 844.263.5263 (toll free) www.imaginationlanenyc.com Imagination-Lane_1114NYF_HPH.indd 1 www.newyorkfamily.com

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Hill Country Hospitality: At both Hill Country Chicken and Hill Country BBQ, the team does extensive catering and private event hosting—including birthdays and mitzvahs. The vibe is one of Southern charm, the food is crowdpleasing, and the event teams can accommodate just about any request. hillcountryny.com Home Cooking New York: Home Cooking New York’s two-hour cooking parties (for ages 8 and up) make a perfect birthday celebration for any young food lover.

Options include handmade tacos, fresh gnocchi, risotto, sushi, summer rolls, and make-your-own banana splits, or designyour-own menu. A chef’s hat decorating activity is included for younger kids. homecookingny.com The Horticulture Society: Let The Hort add an exciting twist to your birthday merriment. Choose from a variety of green-themed parties—including Ladybug Picnic, Wiggling Wonders, and Tiny Terrariums—and let the staff indulge your child’s current natural fascination. thehort.org iLuminate: A birthday party at iLuminate includes a meet-and-greet experience onstage with cast members, plus the birthday child gets a free iLuminate Birthday Swag Bag including a t-shirt, sunglasses, a poster (to have signed), and a choice of sword or butterfly wand.

Other perks include a glow-in-the-dark wristband for all guests, having the cast and audience sing Happy Birthday to the guest of honor (a video of the special birthday moment will be available via a shareable link), a discount on merchandise for all within the birthday group, and a discounted tickets rate for the group. iluminate.com

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continued from page 41 The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum: The Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum’s astronaut- and pilot-themed parties are a guaranteed hit. A unique adventure led by two museum party hosts makes for a perfect birthday celebration. Children ages 3-10 can explore the aircraft carrier Intrepid, Space Shuttle Enterprise and 27 historic aircrafts. The two-hour parties include engaging hands-on activities, dining packages, birthday cake, simulator rides, and more. intrepidmuseum.org

their expertise for providing 1.5 hours of fabulous entertainment! kidsatartnyc.com

The JCC in Manhattan: Party themes at the JCC include dance, science, cooking, art, and gymnastics. One standout is the Custom Hip-Hop Party! This upbeat party allows kids (ages 2-12) to create a custom playlist for a 45-minute hip-hop dance class leading up to a performance full of costumes and more. The JCC takes care of the decor, favors, food, and entertainment. jccmanhattan.org

Kids in Sports: Kids in Sports offers the of the best sports birthday parties in the city! They focus on the birthday child and their friends, facilitating a memorable hour of sports fun, relay races, and cooperative games. Choose 1-2 sports from a wide selection, and your child will have a party everyone is sure to remember. kisnyc.com

Jodi’s Gym: Jodi’s Gym creates memorable gymnastics birthday parties for children ages 1-12. Parents and kids can enjoy an action-packed hour and a half where kids swing from bars, balance on beams, tumble, climb, and stretch to their hearts delight! Beautiful facilities, fun party packages, and exceptional staff make this party a success! jodisgym.com Karma Kids Yoga: Karma Kids Circus Yoga Party is two hours of fun and play!

It includes group games, flying partner yoga, partner acrobatics, and circus skills (such as balance pipe, juggling, diabolo, devil sticks, plates, and more)! karmakidsyoga.com Kate Tempesta’s Urban Golf Academy: KTUGA’s unique, original birthday parties are ideal for children ages 4-8, and are customized to your child’s interests. Think Pirate Golf Fun, Crazy Car Chipping, and Batman Bull’s-Eye Putting. Select from a variety of engaging activities to highlight our golf target games, including storytelling, shadow screen play, music, and movement. UGA provides equipment, music, and prizes. ktuga.com Kids at Art: Imagine having a party where your child and guests create fabulous art projects to take home, and get to sing their favorite tunes! At the very popular Kids at Art Combo Art and Karaoke Party, they use professional DJs from Expressway Music DJs, who bring all of today’s popular hits for children of all ages, along with

Kids at Work: Kids at Work is a loft-like, 1,000-square-ft space with a maximum capacity of around 25 children, plus around two grown-ups per child. For their Basic On-Site Party they offer celebrations for kids ages 18 months to 6 years. Ageappropriate favors, decor, entertainment, and food are included, as are two party professionals. kidsatworknyc.com

Kids of Summer: Choose one or two sports from baseball, basketball, flag football, soccer, dodge ball, and indoor gym games. KoS will take care of finding a field or gym, great coaches to run the games, and equipment. Plus, they’ll organize an action-packed sports party and give out sports party favors to every child! kidsofsummernyc.com Kidville: Kidville’s new Custom Party Package (for ages 1-9) is the perfect party families dream of—with Kidville’s party planners doing all the work.

Kidville’s party planners will source specialty décor, food, favors, and activities to create a themed party as unique as the birthday child. kidville.com LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester: For a fun-filled birthday to remember, LEGOLAND Discovery Center Westchester offers standard and premium party packages for children ages 3-10.

Each party includes admission to the attraction for guests, a private party room and host, cake, beverages, and more. The premium package includes a private LEGO workshop, where guests take home their creations. legolanddiscoverycenter.com/ Westchester Let’s Dress Up!: Let’s Dress Up! offers five party choices on the Upper East Side, such as a Red Carpet Party, a Cupcake Party, and, of course, a Princess Party.

Costumes, favors, and birthday banners delight children. letsdressupct.com

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b i r t h da y guide Let’s Gogh Art: Set sail upon the seven seas with Let’s Gogh Art’s most popular party adventure for ages 2-6! In their Pirate-themed party, little pirates in training and fluttering fairies will add paint and sparkle to their treasure boxes, search for the best jewels and goodies in a swashbuckling, fun scavenger hunt, and decorate their very own wings, tiaras or pirate hats.

Plus, LGA owner Deanna Magenheim recently launched a party supply retail site, Imagination Lane! See page 14 for more info. nyletsgoghart.com Liberty Science Center: LSC’s Birthday Bash is a popular way for children ages 1-13 to celebrate. After an hour of party games and refreshments led by education staff, young birthday scientists can experiment with a wall of bubbles, navigate a maze in the dark, climb across a fossil-studded rock wall, and experience all the Center has to offer. lsc.org The Little Gym: The Little Gym has partnered with Nickelodeon to create special Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go! themed Birthday Adventures!

Birthday children ages 2-6 and their friends will take part in a fun, imaginative adventure with either Dora or Diego and their explorer friends. thelittlegym.com Little Maestros: Little Maestros comes to your home, your playroom, your favorite restaurant, or anywhere you can imagine!

Entertainment from the award-winning class is perfect for infants, toddlers, and their caregivers. Includes instruments, puppets, parachute, bubbles, and more!

To read more about Little Maestros, see page 18. littlemaestros.com Loop of the Loom: Six to 12 weavers can take designs home after a Loop of the Loom birthday on the Upper East Side. Suggested for ages 6 and up, children make homemade weaves or felt creations under instructor guidance. loopoftheloom.com Lucky Strike Lanes: Lucky Strike Manhattan features premium bowling with food, beverage, and entertainment options to accommodate any party. Their professional event planners can work with you to create the perfect party package to fit your needs. bowlluckystrike.com Mad Science: Kids ages 5-12 can celebrate for about an hour, making cotton candy, bubble potions, or launching rockets.

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continued from page 42 Mad Science provides goody bags and accepts groups of up to 20 children. madscience.org

play to enchant your child. He puts on a 30-45 minute show for children ages 0-8. movingtothebeat.net

Madame Tussaud’s: With a range of venue options, Madame Tussaud’s has set the stage for creating the most dramatic backdrop for your birthday party or event. Whether it’s an exclusive attraction for up to 1,200 or an intimate gathering for 10 guests, let them entertain you. With 85,000 square feet of venue space, over 200 figures to meet, and located in the “heart” of Times Square, there’s nowhere else like it in New York. madametussauds.com

Museum of the City of New York: Piece of Cake Parties and the museum team up to present four customized celebrations, each 90 minutes long for up to 20 children. Invites, balloons, pizza, cake, and more come standard. Themes include Taxis & Trains Adventure and Super Skyscraper Caper. mcny.org

Make Meaning: Celebrate creativity at Make Meaning with a party focused on making glassware and ceramics, decorating cakes, and more. The private events space features a main event and a side show of the birthday boy or girl’s choice. With a custom cake, decorations, and VIP passes to return for all, it will be a birthday to remember (for ages 1-10). makemeaning.com Manhattan Music & Arts: Seven fullyequipped event spaces make Manhattan Movement & Arts Center an ideal choice for fun, flexible birthday parties, mitzvahs, and more. Parents remain in control of party planning details, while MMAC offers in-house catering options, and expert dance teachers from the MMAC Kids Performing Arts program. manhattanmovement.com Mo’ Motion: Mo’ Motion offers basketball and multi-sports themed parties for children grades 2-8. They work with parents and children to tailor the birthday activities to fit various ages, skills, and interests. Spirited instructors coach and lead up to 25 kids for almost two hours, and then walk the kids to a nearby restaurant for pizza. momotion.org Moey’s Music Party: Moey’s Music Party birthdays specialize in princess theme parties. Moey arrives in a ball gown and passes out tiara-riffic tiaras, pom-poms, maracas, and magic wands.

She and her band lead kids in sparkletacular interactive singing and dancing! moeysmusicparty.com Moving To The Beat: Robert the Guitar Guy is a popular singer and guitarist who uses drums, shakers, bells, rhythm sticks, movement, and humorous puppet

My Gym: Your birthday child is the star of the party when you celebrate at My Gym! Enjoy exclusive use of My Gym facility while the staff leads a customized program including your child’s favorite games, activities, rides, songs, puppets and more!

From set-up to clean-up, My Gym provides an unforgettable experience for guests of all ages. mygymisfun.com (Harlem), mygym.com/uppereast83 (UES) & mygym. com/uws (Lincoln Center/UWS) Mystery & Mayhem: Mystery & Mayhem offers hilarious improvisational and ageappropriate dress-up mystery parties in which guests ages 8-18 become all the suspects in a dastardly crime. Choose from five mysterious dramas, or theme your party around Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, Harry Potter, or any of your child’s favorite heroes or heroines. Each party culminates in “crystal ceremony” with gifts of a crystal or semi-precious stone for each guest. mysteryandmayhem.com New York Hall of Science: NYSCI’S Super Space Ace Party has you prepare for liftoff by putting on your own Flight Suit, then seeing real NASA Rockets and learning how they work. Test your knowledge by launching your own stomp rocket, and see if you can launch it higher than your friends’. Finally, splash down in the Birthday Party Room to enjoy some out-of-this world lunch, cake, and goodie bags. nysci.org New York Transit Museum: Birthdays at the Transit Museum bring to life over 100 years of transit lore, giving children ages 3 and up the chance to get in the bus driver’s seat for a great party. Each group receives a guided tour, special games and activities like Design a Vehicle and Scavenger Hunt, and a family membership so you can come back again and again! web.mta.info/museum

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continued from page 44 customized to include rock climbing, soccer, basketball, and more. Both clubs also offer on-site catering and decoration services. reeboksportsclubny.com RoboFun: Celebrate your child’s special day making, coding, or animating. At a RoboFun Birthday Party, your junior engineer will build LEGO robotics (grades K-6), code their own video game (grades 3-6), or direct stop motion animation films (grades 3-6). robofun.org

The Scholastic Store: Sign up for the ultimate Royal Bash! Each child will decorate a jeweled crown to bring home as a royal souvenir. The Scholastic Store’s party planners will make this the easiest, most fun party you can imagine! A basic party includes party planner, two party hosts, online invitations, a craft activity, Above: CuRious Candy; inset left: Pins & Needles. music and dancing, story time, cupcakes, juice, and games! scholastic.com NY Kids Club: The Classic Gym parties at Pins & Needles: Pins & Needles offers a NY Kids Club, for ages 1-12, are far from SciTech Kids: SciTech Kids’ science variety of options for a fun and creative your everyday gym party. They feature a parties include experiments and celebration. The P&N signature Sewing hearty dose of age-appropriate theatrics, demonstrations that are interactive, Parties are designed for children ages 7-14. song, dance, and creativity, and offer exciting, and most of all fun for kids 4-11.

During the two-hour party, 6-10 guests are options such as a Musical Tots band Kids become budding scientists as they given a basic introduction to the sewing performance or a rock climbing wall. conduct cool experiments and enjoy machine and a choice to design and nykidsclub.com special effects that thrill and inform stitch a chic purse, tote or playful pillow. young minds! Themes include beauty All of the parties are hosted in the brand Peridance Capezio Center: Come party and spa science, sports and velocity, cool new studio, and all the materials for the with the School at Peridance for your chemistry, and more. sci-techkids.com projects are chosen from the sewing and child’s birthday. Their two-hour Dance crafting boutique.pinsandneedlesnyc.com Party package includes a one-hour dance Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids: Throw a glam class with one of their faculty teachers in birthday party for your daughter at Pop Star Parties: The Grammy Party anything from Hip Hop to Ballet! You child Sharkey’s Cuts for Kids. Parties take is Pop Star Parties’ most sought after will love learning fantastic new moves, place in the Glamour Girl dressing room birthday package. Geared towards kids playing active and creative games, and where partygoers get a new hairstyle, ages 7-14 who dream of being the next celebrating in style. peridance.com makeup application, and mini-cure.

Katy Perry or Bruno Mars, kids get to rock Pizza and beverages are provided. out to two songs with up to 18 friends in Playgarden NYC: Playgarden’s sharkeyscutsforkids.com/parties the recording studio. The 1.5 hour party 8,000-square-ft playspace is available for includes studio time, staffing, pizza and private Blowout Parties for children 1-6.

Simply Sports: Simply Sports’ custom beverages, and a download of recorded Kids have a blast on two unique indoor birthday parties for kids ages 4-12 songs for each guest. popstarparties.com playgrounds with structured games, ensure that every child has a very special obstacle courses, and zipline rides! day. Kids choose between 1-3 sports to Queens County Farm Museum: For a farm Playgarden’s all-inclusive parties make it play. Parties are offered on weekends on birthday party, look no further than the easy for families to enjoy that special day. the Upper East Side. simplysports.net Queens County Farm, offering children’s playgardennyc.com birthday parties from April to October for Soccer by Coach Fher: The best kind of little ones ages 1-12. A full service party Pine Street School: Celebrate your party is one that ensures that kids come incorporates tractor drawn hayrides, birthday with a party at Pine Street home exhausted! Coach Fher makes this animal feeding, and a farmyard tour. Pizza, School! Located in the heart of the happen at his one- or two-hour soccer cake, and favors included. queensfarm.org Financial District, Pine Street School is parties. Providing a coach for every six available for birthday parties with the children, Soccer by Coach Fher takes care Reebok Sports Club/NY & Sport Club/ best in NYC kids programming! From of all the details. The party ends with a LA: When it comes to sports-themed Super Soccer Stars to ConstructionKids to family or children’s game. coachfher.com parties, no one does it like Reebok TADA!, you can create an amazing party Sports Club/NY and Sports Club/LA. for your children in a state-of-the-art With options for children of all ages and continued on page 48 facility. greenivyschools.com interests (up to 15 kids), parties can be

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SPiN NY: Kids’ ping pong parties at SPiN take place in a private room with plenty of room for ping pong fun. Guests can also dig into yummy treats from the SPiN Kitchen restaurant while playing the timeless paddle sport. newyork.spingalactic.com SPORTIME Randall’s Island: The birthday child and their guests will participate in a variety of exciting tennis games, activities, and a round-robin tournament. All activities will be adapted to the playing levels of the participants. Children spend one hour playing tennis and a half-hour celebrating in the private party area. SPORTIME supplies the courts, equipment, instructors, and a party room. sportimeny.com Super Soccer Stars: A Super Soccer Stars’ birthday party is the perfect way to celebrate your child’s special day! Led by a team of energetic and enthusiastic coaches at one of their citywide indoor or outdoor locations, children ages 2-12 will play fun and engaging, age-appropriate soccer activities for an action-packed hour before cake, food, and more. All parties are customizable, with a basic package that includes a soccer ball for every child. supersoccerstars.com/birthdays Symphony Space: Symphony Space’s “Just Kidding” performing arts series offers two music-themed birthday party packages, which allow kids to interact directly with artists, while enjoying tasty snacks, a cake, a concert, and a few pairs of extra hands to help parents wrangle the kids. Families may choose between the Just Kidding Theatre Party, or the premium Just Kidding Front Row Party, which includes a customized performance by a Just Kidding artist. symphonyspace.org TADA! Youth Theater: Bring TADA! To You! is TADA!’s most popular birthday party package. Ideal for children ages 5-13, TADA!’s professional teaching artists will travel to you, and teach a one-hour session including a series of theater games, song and dance moves for the TADA! Birthday song, and provide party favors and a special goody bag for the birthday child. tadatheater.com Tie Dye Town: At Tie Dye Town’s Grooviest Party, kids have a blast rotating through all of the different stations from making their own tie dye t-shirts, spin art, peace sign stencils, and even glitter tattoos!

The party includes goody bags, all of the arts and crafts stations, 70s dress-up,

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The Scholastic Store

and three staff members to host your party! tiedyetown.com TLB Music: Kids ages 1-5 can party like rockstars at TLB Music’s Rock and Roll Music + Play Party! During this 90-minute party, guests will enjoy a completely customized Rock and Roll music class where they’ll be introduced to instruments like the electric guitar and saxophone, and jam out. Afterwards, they’ll head to the indoor playspace for Two Boots pizza and play. tlbmusic.com Twinkle Party: Why not celebrate with a pirouette? Ballet Birthdays with Twinkle Party will have your little ballerina and her friends twirling about in a whirl of imagination and learning. Kids ages 3-7 are mesmerized by the Prima ballerina dressed for stage while instructed in a ballet lesson. A craft, coloring book, dress-up tutus, and tiaras all included. twinklepartyfun.com Victorian Gardens: At Central Park’s Victorian Gardens Amusement Park, party guests receive day-long unlimited ride passes! Partygoers will celebrate amidst more than 30,000 feet of rides, games, and attractions, before chowing down on treats like chicken tenders, turkey sandwiches, hot dogs, cookies, and fruit. victoriangardensnyc.com West Side Taekwondo: West Side Taekwondo will offer two-hour parties complete with an introductory lesson, children’s games, and a demonstration of forms, sparring, and board breaks. westsidetkd.com YMCA McBurney: McBurney YMCA’s Indoor Playground Party is the top party package for little ones. Children ages 1-6 will have a blast while they climb

through the obstacle course and jump in the bouncy castle. A two-hour party will include an hour of staff-supervised activities in the McBurney YMCA’s indoor playground, and an hour in the party room. ymcanyc.org/mcburney YMCA Vanderbilt: Having a pool party is the Vanderbilt YMCA’s most popular birthday party option for children ages 5-12. Pool Parties include one hour of exclusive swimming pool use for up to 20 swimmers (life guards are provided) followed by two hours use of the party room for food, cake, games, and fun! ymcanyc.org/vanderbilt YMCA West Side: Rooftop parties, for ages 3-6, take place on a playground on top of the West Side YMCA. If the view doesn’t impress you, the slide and the spongy surface of the rooftop playground will. With new and safe equipment to climb on, having your child’s party at the West Side YMCA’s rooftop playground will be a unique and memorable occasion. ymcanyc.org/westside Yogi Beans: Pamper your birthday bean with two hours of SPA-tacular fun! Yogi Beans’ bash (for ages 6 and up) includes a 45 minute personalized yoga class, 45 minutes of spa fun, and a 30-minute pizza party picnic. The party includes two instructors, a hostess, pizza, juice, and paper goods. yogibeans.com Yorkville Youth Athletic Association: At YYAA, you can request a soccer, baseball, basketball, flag football, floor hockey, or dodgeball party. Yorkville also does multisport parties combining any of the above or tag games, ultimate Frisbee and old school street games. YYAA will supply the space, the coaches, and the games. yyaa.org

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mitzvah guide 2014-15

MITZVAH

MAGIC From Flashy Fun To Traditional Elegance, Our Top Picks For Where By SimonBar Or Bat Mitzvah ToSamantha Host Your Celebration Are Sure To Delight

N

ew York City has no shortage of fantastic venues perfect for celebrating a young person’s coming of age. While our list of ultimate party venues is as varied as it is comprehensive, one common current runs through them all: Each promises a distinct affair to remember—regardless of what kind of tone you want to set.

LET’S EAT Apella Event Space, at Alexandria Center at 450 East 29th Street, can hold up to 300 guests for a cocktail reception, 250 seated theater-style, and various other setups for smaller events. All food and beverages are exclusively catered by Tom Colicchio’s restaurant Riverpark and sandwich shop ‘wichcraft. Contact: 212-706-4100 or events@apella.com Benjamin Steakhouse prides itself on providing perfectly choreographed events. So allow their expertise in service and cuisine to ensure that your family’s special day is a complete success. From beautifully marbled cuts of dry-aged beef and delicious seafood to unbeatable charm and service, Benjamin Steakhouse is a great way to set the scene for a festive dining and celebratory experience for groups of 15-200 people. Contact: 212-297-9177 or events@benjaminsteakhouse.com Guastavino’s window-filled building under the Queensboro bridge at 409 East 59th Street was named for the distinctive terra cotta tiles adorning its arches and vaults. The look is classic

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New York—these are the same tiles that are in the subway stations and Grand Central Terminal. Contact: 212980-2711, guastavinos.com Opia Restaurant at 130 East 57th Street in Midtown has adjoining rooms, which means you can host from 14 to 300 people for a sit-down dinner with dancing, or just serve drinks and passed appetizers. Price per person varies depending on the menu and number of guests. Contact: Jimena, 212-688-8448 or jimena@ opiarestaurant.com The Sea Fire Grill boasts chic and inviting décor, impressive menu options, and excellent service—all of which contribute to a sophisticated, memorable, and flawless event. A myriad of spaces are suited for parties of 10-150. Located at 158 East 48th Street. Contact: 212-935-3785 or events@theseafiregrill.com

DANCE THE NIGHT AWAY Arena at 135 West 41st Street in Bryant Park has New York’s largest programmable L.E.D. lighting system and is home to some of Fashion Week’s swankiest affairs. It’s a great space for budding fashionistas to celebrate their milestone. Contact: Gina La Rochelle or Anthony Coppers, 212-278-0988 x103 or events@ arenanyc.net Blue Man Group at the Astor Place Theatre is great for bar or bat mitzvahs. This unique theatrical

Lucky Strike Lanes

experience is a form of entertainment like nothing else, guaranteed to be an outing that your group will never forget. Party packages—which include discounted tickets, the name of the mitzvah child on the L.E.D. screen, and a merchandise item for each guest— are available for groups of 10 and up.

Located on Lafayette Street between 4th and Astor. Contact: 212-260-8993 Columbus 72 has remained one of the city’s perennial nightclubs for the past 40 years, and the space at 246 Columbus Avenue recently underwent its first huge renovation. Featuring two dance floors, two lounges, and upholstered lounge furniture, the venue offers a state-of-the-art sound system and six large flat-screen TVs to liven up the scene of any party. Contact: 212769-1492 or events@c72nyc.com Hudson Terrace at 621 West 46th Street is a turn-of-the-century upscale nightclub. Overlooking the Hudson River, this midtown Manhattan landmark can host up to 400 guests in one of its party spaces, which include an oldworld salon, an outdoor garden terrace, and an open-air retractable rooftop garden lounge. Contact: 212-315-9400 or info@hudsonterracenyc.com Melrose Ballroom, located at 36-08 33rd Street, Astoria, has a large three-floor venue that can seat up to 1,000 people.

The first floor ballroom seats around 700 and the second floor mezzanine seats another 100, with the lounge on the third floor also available for use. Catering options are available through the Melrose Ballroom. Contact: 718-255-6921 or info@melroseballroom.com

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Michael Jurick Photography

The Craft Studio (and its prime UES location) can now be rented out for mitzvah parties with a fun and creative feel. The venue has disco balls and high ceilings, and can be transformed to suit any theme, with plenty of space for additional furniture, tables, and decor. Plus, there’s a huge menu of craft stations to select from and space for up to 75 people. Contact: Lindsay Peers, 212-831-6626 or craftstudio@ verizon.net

eSpace

Tenjune occupies a former garage in the Meatpacking District. This subterranean lounge oozes urban cool with zebra-prints, a horseshoeshaped dance floor and a bar covered in leather. Located at 26 Little West 12th Street. Contact: 646-624-2410 or events@emmgrouping.com

LOFTY IDEAS The Glasshouses at 545 West 25th Street offer a blank canvas of windowed walls. Choose from a room with 11- or 14-ft ceilings; the starting price to rent either space is $7,500, and both hold 150 people for seated dinners or 200 for cocktail receptions.

Contact: Yumi Han, 212-242-7800 x19 or yumi@theglasshouses.com eSpace at 635 West 42nd is a clean, modern space just steps from Times Square that can hold up to 600 guests for a seated dinner. Teens will be thrilled to discover the wireless Internet access which they can use to post realtime updates of the evening. Contact: 212-967-7003 or espaceny.com The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers at Pier 60 is a waterfront space that can hold 160 to 900 guests for a cocktail reception and 350 for dinner with dancing. Floor-to-ceiling windows have sweeping views of the Hudson and the lights of New Jersey. An outdoor patio makes this a perfect spot for a warm weather cocktail hour. Contact: Meredith Barsky, 212-336-6146 or barskm@chelseapiers.com Tribeca 360 provides breathtaking panoramic views of Manhattan in

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over 30,000 square feet of space. In addition to offering views of the scenic cityscape for miles, the minimalistic décor of the architecturally designed venue is highly versatile. To top it off, a 3,000-ft hickory wood dance floor can be enjoyed by up to 700 people at 10 Desbrosses Street. Contact: 212-6252600 or inquiries@apogeeevents.com

SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center at 431 East Main Street in Riverhead will take your guests on a private journey through the ruins of the Lost City of Atlantis. The adventure continues in your choice of aquatic-themed rooms. Kids and adults alike will marvel at the petting tanks and shark exhibits. Contact: Johanna Zucaro, 631-208-9200 x220 or jzucaro@amwny.com Hard Rock Café at 1501 Broadway is ideal for a party that really rocks.

Every room in the venue is filled with music memorabilia, and you can rent the café’s indoor/outdoor space overlooking Times Square. Contact: John Pasquale, 212-991-1287 or john_ pasquale@hardrock.com A Family Disco at 135 West 41st Street, Bryant Park, is a colorful space known for catering to families. They offer a club, catering, DJ, dancers, and performance artists, as well as photography and food, so you can focus on the important stuff, like what to wear. Contact: 212-586-7425 or afamilydisco.com

New York Hall of Science at 47-01 111th Street, Queens, offers an out-of-thisworld setting. Holding your affair in their North Wing gives your guests an opportunity to explore outer space, dance with the stars, and even check out the interactive exhibits. Contact: Jennifer Brunjes, 718-699-0005 x371 or jbrunjes@nysci.org Providence at 311 West 57th Street has a 13,500-square-ft space featuring three levels and four bars to cater to any preferences and tastes. Formerly a church and studio where Sinatra, Hendrix, Streisand, and Stevie Wonder recorded their music, this space provides for a grand party. Features include a state-ofthe-art sound system, intelligent lighting, plasma displays, and projections screens, all designed to add personalized special effects to the party. Contact:212-505-7400 or metronomenyc.com World Yacht Destiny at Pier 81 features a dance floor, walk-up bar, and dining configurations at which guests can enjoy food from some of the tri-state area’s best kosher caterers. The ship is ideal for medium-sized groups and has a relaxed lounge deck that provides the perfect spot for dancing under the night sky. Located on the Hudson River at West 41st Street, the yacht hosts up to 250 people. Contact: 212-630-8100

LET THE GAMES BEGIN SPiN New York, which is partly owned

by Susan Sarandon, takes ping pong out of the suburban basement and transports it to a sleek and hip setting.

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that you can’t get anywhere else: lots of ping pong fun and games. Contact: 212-982-8802 or info@spinyc.com USTA Tennis Center’s President’s Dining & Lounge overlooks Arthur Ashe Stadium, giving tennis fans the wow factor. Located in Flushing Meadow Park, the stadium is home to the U.S. Open and the largest outdoor tennis-only venue in the world. Up to 300 guests can be entertained with dinner and dancing. Prices start at $11,000 to rent the space. Contact: Jennifer Matthews, 718-595-2420 or matthews@usta.com

JP Teutonico

Yankee Stadium at East 161st Street and River Avenue in the Bronx is a dream come true for baseball aficionados. The Legends Suite Club extends from home plate down each baseline for unparalleled views of the ball field. Or try the Great Moments room, which is adorned with images of historic plays in Yankees history.

Contact: 646-977-8400 or events@ yankees.com

Bowlmor Lanes

Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine, brought to you by former New York Knicks star Clyde Frazier, is a perfect spot for basketball-loving bar and bat mitzvah kids. This 10,000-square-ft restaurant, located at 485 10th Avenue, features a free-throw court in addition to the typical dining room and bar and lounge spaces. 42 TV screens, a nine-screen video wall, and treats by a Latin-focused culinary team rounds out the entertainment offerings. Contact: Walter Rauscher, 212-842-1110 or rauscherw@arkrestaurants.com

Clyde Frazier’s Wine and Dine.

Dave & Buster’s at 234 West 42nd Street, 3rd Floor. Everyone can let their inner child out at this 31,500-square-ft gaming venue. D&B can hold parties for as few as ten or as many as 1,200 guests. Contact: Benjamin Maddy, 646-495-2011 or benjamin_maddy@ daveandbusters.com Lucky Strike Lanes at 624-660 West 42nd Street. They’ll have fun to spare at Lucky Strike Lanes. Hold your party in the main bowling area or rent the ultra-private Luxe room for fetes up to 200 people.

Contact: Matt Miller, 646-829-0180

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Bowlmor Lanes Union Square/ Greenwich Village Country Club at 110 University Place is the only indoor spot in New York where you can play mini golf, bocce ball, bowl, drink, and hit the dance floor all in one night. Contact: 212-255-8188 or bowlmor.com

CHIC CHOICES Angel Orensanz Foundation at 172 Norfolk Street was built in 1849 and is the oldest surviving synagogue building in New York. They don’t build them like this anymore—the interior was designed to resemble Paris’ Cathedral

of Notre-Dame and the sanctuary was designed to resemble the Sistine Chapel. It can hold up to 250 for a sit-down dinner with a dance floor (for 300 guests, add $500). The price ranges from $15,800-17,800 Monday through Thursday and $19,800-21,800 Friday through Sunday. Catering not included. Contact: Maria Neri, 212-5297194 or orensanzevents@aol.com Broad Street Ballroom at 41 Broad Street retains all the elegance from its original use as a banking hall. The 5,700-square-ft ballroom is wrapped in a 220-ft mural chronicling the history of commerce by sea. Features include a state-of-the-art AV system perfect for showing a photo montage and seating for up to 300 guests. Contact: 646-624-2524 x360 or raquel@ broadstreetballroom.com Bryant Park Grill at 25 West 40th Street is situated behind the New York Public Library and overlooks Bryant Park with an attractive, modern interior. The space can hold up to 150 guests for an evening of dinner and dancing. Contact: Walter Rauscher, 212-206-8815 x106 or rauscherw@ arkrestaurants.com The Edison Ballroom, the former Times Square Supper Club, retains its Art Deco style in a space that can hold up to 600 people. Use their kitchen staff or bring in your own. Prices range from $100-180 per person. Contact: Sean Campbell, 212-201-7650 or sean@ edisonballroom.com Eventi offers a sleek and chic setting in a scene-defining neighborhood located at 851 Avenue of the Americas. continued on page 56

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PHOTO BY PAUL MOBLEY © 2014 BLUE MAN PRODUCTIONS, LLC.

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The Garrison offers private rooms with natural light. The elegant interior design by Tony Chi is purposely classic and neutral, flexible to fit any theme. Located just an hour north of NYC, The Garrison is easy for your guests to reach on your family’s big day. Creative cuisine from Chef Vin Mocarski’s kitchen is tailored to your event. There’s room for playfulness, like retro dessert stations featuring homemade versions of Twinkies and Oreos. Contact: 845-424-3604 X15 or info@thegarrison.com Harmonie Club at 4 East 60th Street is the second oldest social club in New York City, dating back to 1852. Its posh Beaux Arts design outside and traditional wood paneling inside make this locale a classic choice. Contact: 212-355-7400 Home Studios is a conveniently located loft in the heart of Manhattan.

With 14-ft ceilings and maple floors, the 4,000-square-ft space at 873 Broadway offers classically simple furniture, in addition to an elegant ambiance and access to top caterers for privately hosted parties.

Contact: 212-475-4663 or info@ homestudiosinc.com The Liberty Theater at 233 West 41st Street in Times Square was originally built in 1904, and for many years was home to some of New York’s finest theatrical productions before undergoing a multi-million dollar renovation in 2007. It’s now a restaurant and event space that can accommodate parties of almost any scale. Contact: William Curran, 212-9971015 or wcurran@tshgrp.com The Penthouse Lounge at 230 Fifth embraces modernist décor from the 1940s with beveled peach mirrors and antique couches and cocktail tables crafted by famed artisans. The spacious 8,000-square-ft venue can seat up to 600 guests and boasts panoramic views of the Manhattan

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Clay & Co.

Popular features include the Big Screen Plaza, a giant multimedia art screen, for displying footage or branded logos, distinctive catering, a large veranda terrace, a sit-down dinner for 250, and much more. Contact: Lisa Benoit, lisa. benoit@eventihotel.com

Edison Ballroom

skyline from its perch between 26th and 27th Streets. Contact: 212-725-4300 or susie@230-fifth.com

Slate has the ultimate lounge vibe, brimming with comfortable oversized plush chairs and sleek sofas.

Resembling a large living room, the highly social atmosphere features a wall-to-wall line of 12-ft doors that lead to a VIP lounge and the Studio dining area. The 16,000-square-ft venue at 54 West 21st Street accommodates various party sizes, and the staff kindly offers to honor special requests. Contact: 212989-0096 or info@slate-ny.com Stage 6, Steiner Studios at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, 15 Washington Avenue, Brooklyn, is located in a major movie production studio. The modern ballroom has walls of paned glass offering dramatic views of lower Manhattan, the Brooklyn and Williamsburg Bridges, and the Empire State Building. The venue can hold 150-600 people for dinner and dancing. All catering must be done through Abigail Kirsch Productions with prices ranging from $150-250 per person. Contact: 718-237-1919 or steinerstudios.com Union Square Ballroom combines understated modernism with chic warmth. The venue, located at 27 Union Square West offers state-ofthe-art sound and light technology, vaulted acoustic ceilings, and recessed perimeter floor lighting. Seating up to 400 guests, the room’s “blank palette” design allows for creative décor and room design. Contact: 212-645-1802 or unionsquareballroom.com

W New York Union Square is an innovatively re-mixed space that is home to a 2,300-square-ft Great Room. With ceilings that are 23 feet high and opulent turn-of-the-century décor, the room at 201 Park Avenue South still boasts detailing from the original 1911 Guardian Life Beaux-Arts building and can accommodate up to 200 people. Contact: 212-253-9119

A GOOD DEAL 202 East can host up to 120 guests on the second floor of a two-story townhouse on the Upper East Side.

Located on East 77th Street between 2nd and 3rd Avenues, the space’s discreet appearance allows for a great deal of privacy. The refined décor features light gray, gold, and turquoise color motifs that create a soft environment, further enhanced by wall-mounted candles, adjustable lighting levels, and high vaulted ceilings. Food is not provided at the venue and must be catered from elsewhere. Contact: Doug Russell, 212861-4330 or russell@202east.com DOROT, Inc., at 171 West 85th Street, offers the Susan Resnick Fisher Auditorium, a beautifully renovated party space that holds up to 60 people and is available on evenings, weekends and some holidays. Add a DJ, some pizza, and you’re all set—it’s perfect for a kids-only dance party.

The room rental charge is a bargain at $200 an hour. Contact: Judith Logan, 917-441-3753 or jlogan@dorotusa.org

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NEW YORK FAMILY PARTNER

ENGAGING THE

INDIVIDUAL Photo by Bruce Jeffrey

Just 90 Minutes From Manhattan, The Stony Brook School Combines Stellar College Prep Instruction With A Christian Approach

By Jennifer Kelly Geddes Not every school can lay claim to nearly a century of tradition that includes top-notch instruction, a brand new STEM lab, and a beachfront location just 50 miles from New York City.

But then again the Stony Brook School has long remained in a class by itself. “We have a faith-based background that informs what we do, so we’re not afraid to ask the big questions. We want to give kids the space to think, not only when it comes to our core disciplines like math, science and English, but also about why we’re here and our purpose in life,” explains Joshua Crane, Stony Brook’s head of school.

Crane’s business and education background has prepared him well to lead Stony Brook, as has his prior success at Central Christian School in St. Louis, MO, where he doubled the enrollment during his tenure. He’s also a busy dad with four daughters, two of whom are enrolled at his school.

Almost 350 students in grades 7-12 attend the Stony Brook School in three capacities: As day students, as five-day boarders who go home on weekends, or as full-time boarding students.

Diversity is a hallmark, with students hailing from 17 states and more than two dozen countries. “The opportunity to learn about new cultures is built right into the school because the kids work, eat and play alongside each other every day,” Crane says.

Small classes (15-16 students) and an emphasis on mentoring guarantees an individualized approach so that each child is known in-depth. “It’s a very thoughtful community where relationships play a big role—the boarding aspect really allows for that,” Crane says. Additionally, Stony Brook believes in hard work, as demonstrated in its campus job program: Every student has a task to perform that in turn serves his or her peers and helps the school run. For example, kids might take on duties in the kitchen, clean boats for the sailing program, or help out the admissions department by meeting with prospective families. “The work is important because it teaches responsibility and humility,” Crane explains. “And these tasks are real, not token chores, so the kids really engage in the operation of the school.”

The Stony Brook School is uniquely positioned to collaborate with the renowned science faculty at SUNY Stony Brook (it’s right across the street), as well as at Brookhaven National Laboratory and the Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory.

“Long Island is a remarkable center for science and technology, and our students are able to take full advantage by going

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Stony Brook School students with head of school Joshua Crane.

to classes and participating in programs at these institutions.

There’s even a kid this year who’s currently doing research on genetic sequencing of neuropsychic disorders—she’s part of a real team that’s actually looking for a cure now,” Crane says. The school has also prioritized a STEM initiative and just broke ground for a lab that will accommodate such activities as robotics, 3D-modeling, software development and coding.

Students are required to play two sports each year, and options include football, basketball, baseball, soccer, badminton, wrestling, and lacrosse (the less-sporty can select robotics or theater). “With academics, the work/job program and all the afterschool sports and activities, time management is critical and it’s learned early on at Stony Brook,” Crane points out. The school is particularly proud of its 40-year-old sailing program, which takes place during the fall and spring. Students can join the team and compete in regattas all over the eastern seaboard and as far away as New Orleans, or just take a dinghy out on the weekend to explore Long Island Sound.

Hard work pays off at Stony Brook, with college acceptances for their students at every Ivy League institution and numerous highly selective schools (Williams, Amherst, Duke, Johns Hopkins, and Carnegie Mellon to name a few).

But before kids launch into the wider world, the school likes to focus on the concept of vocational discipleship. The goal is to give kids some insight into their talents through a variety of tests that help expose their native wiring. Figuring out what each kid is good at, and how he or she learns, is of real value.

“We give our kids a portfolio of who they are so they can take it with them as they move on to the next level of education,” Crane says. A better focus and understanding of their particular talents means students can make smarter decisions. “It’s called the ‘concept of fit.’ We have the time at Stony Brook to get to know our kids—we can go that deep,” Crane says.

For more information, visit stonybrookschool.org.

Class Visiting Days: Tuesday November 11, 2014 and Monday January 19, 2015.

Open Houses: Saturday January 10, 2015 and Saturday March 21, 2015.

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SciTech Kids

WHERE THINGS ARE, WHERE THINGS ARE GOING Our Annual Education Trend Report Edited By Eric Messinger From the rise of STEM to the education policies of the de Blasio administration to the new outpost for local private schools, here’s the lowdown on the latest education news and trends impacting our children.

Five Important Ways Technology Is Impacting Education

By Angelique LeDoux

Editor’s Note: If you’re interested in exploring the intersection of education and technology in a fun, kid-friendly way, mark your calendar: On November 8, Parents of Accelerated Among affluent city parents, the preferred type of child care has Learners (PALNYC) is hosting NY ED Tech Family Day, an event for families to explore the intersection of technology long been to hire a nanny. But the nanny vs. daycare vs. au pair and education through exhibits, demos, carnival-style games, debate may start to shift with the opening of a daycare center interactive workshops, and even a scavenger hunt. For more rooted in the kind of developmental activities, communityinformation about the event, visit palworkshopsnyc.org. We mindedness, outstanding facilities, and educated teachers one asked Angelique LeDoux, the co-founder of PALNYC, to hold more typically expects from the best nursery schools in the city. The center, Explore+Discover, is located at 2nd Avenue and off on the fun for a minute and apprise us of five ways that East 26th Street. Its approach for caring for and educating little technology is truly impacting learning. –Eric Messinger children from 3 months to 2 years is, in part, inspired by the There is no denying the rapid transformation resulting educational philosophy known as Reggio Emilia. from technological innovation unfolding in education right Started years ago by an Italian educator, in general terms, now. While digital natives take the lead, comfortable with Reggio favors a learning environment in which children have their new tools, teachers and education administrators are an active and welcome role in the unfolding of an activity. figuring out how to best apply these tools in and out of the There are many nursery schools across the country that classroom. Here are five trends to note, as well as tools and incorporate Reggio principles, including such popular local programs to make them happen. schools as Beginnings, Tribeca Community, and the nursery at the JCC in Manhattan. Reggio may well be the new favorite 1. BLENDED, HYBRID & FLIPPED LEARNING flavor in daycare. We recently heard of another new daycare It sounds like a James Bond cocktail preference, but the center, Manhattan Schoolouse, set to open in January on the blended, or flipped, classroom model of teaching has shaken Upper East Side, which is a Reggio Emilia-inspired daycare and stirred the classroom by using recorded lectures and and preschool program. other online tools to deliver the content—viewed outside of For more on these two programs, visit explorediscover.net continued on page 60 and manhattanschoolshouse.com.

Daycare With A Twist Of Reggio

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the classroom—while devoting classroom time for discussing, rather than presenting, the day's lessons.

Tools & Programs: Evernote, EdModo, Blackboard, Moodle, Schoology 2. PERSONALIZED, SELF-PACED & ADAPTIVE LEARNING By now, we all know the Khan Academy model of personalized learning—basically, you’re weak in algebra and your Uncle Sal sends you a targeted video lesson to improve your skills. But adaptive learning takes this to another level, by shifting and adjusting content according to sophisticated data analysis of a student’s strengths and weaknesses.

A personalized, adaptive learning platform, for example, would adjust, rather than repeat, the course instruction if a student makes a mistake on a math question, but was able to demonstrate a key understanding of the core content.

Free class anyone? For young—and even lifetime—learners who want to learn at their own pace, MOOCs—which stands for massive open online courses—are free and have unlimited enrollment, providing access to courses taught by top scholars and industry experts at the world’s leading universities, like Harvard, Stanford, and MIT. Tools & Programs: coursera.org, udacity, EdX.org, DreamBox Learning, Books That Grow, Think Through Math, Knewton 3. GAMIFIED LEARNING & NEW LEARNING TOOLS Gamification is the 21st century version of the Spelling Bee— a competitive, motivating, challenging, and game-based approach to learning content, without the boredom of drill and kill and memorization. Digital, shareable flashcards, 3D printing, and augmented reality are great learning tools, allowing students to improve retention, visualize and realize their inventions, and create hands-on prototypes of complex concepts.

Tools & Programs: Kahoot!, Brainscape, ClassDojo, Raspberry Pi. Honorable Mention: Quest to Learn (Middle School and High School) 4. ONLINE COLLABORATION & MENTORING Learning to work collaboratively is an essential skill that extends into the workforce, and students themselves are collaborating a lot more lately with the help of Cloud computing, GoogleDocs and class blogs, and class discussions on Twitter and other social media—not to mention Skype and Facetime. These new opportunities to work together can lead to deeper learning experiences that transcend the classroom, allowing students to look into medical labs, third world countries, social issues and more.

One-on-one mentorships with scientists, entrepreneurs, and other experts are now not only possible, but a growing opportunity for keeping students engaged and exploring fields they might not otherwise consider.

Tools & Programs: GoogleDocs, ThinkBinder, Edmodo, Storybird, mind42, Skype in Education, Prezi, ePals, MentorNet, STEM Mentoring, Fellowship, iMentor 5. ASSESSMENT-AIDED LEARNING, LEARNING ANALYTICS & COMMUNICATION Why is it that we still let many kids—and their parents—only know that a child will have to repeat a grade just before the end of the school year? Imagine learning monthly or quarterly that your child isn’t grasping the math concept,

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or better yet, the opposite—that your child has aced the pre-assessment for a much higher level math than her peers and is ready to progress more quickly! It would be extremely helpful to make changes in what they’re learning more quickly. Assessments, learning analytics, and better communication across all stakeholders—students, educators, principals, the administration, and parents—are potentially one of the biggest game-changers of Ed Tech. Juggling the implications of assessments and analytics and keeping student data safe will continue to be a balancing act.

Tools & Programs: EnGrade, FreshGrade, ClassMessenger Angelique LeDoux can be contacted at angeliqueledoux@me.com.

The New DOE: Where Things Are, Where Things Are Going

By Sarah Darville Editor’s Note: When he was campaigning for office, Mayor Bill de Blasio promised a course correction on a number of the Bloomberg administration’s key education policies. It’s now been a year since he took office, which seemed like a good time to ask Chalkbeat New York (a news organization covering educational change in New York City schools) Bureau Chief, Sarah Darville, for an overview of Department Of Education policies under de Blasio’s appointee, Carmen Fariña—and what we can expect ahead.

–Eric Messinger UNIVERSAL PRE-KINDERGARTEN Where Things Are: The city relentlessly pushed its pre-K expansion this summer, and things have gone smoothly so far. About 50,000 4-year-olds are in full-day pre-K programs this year at a public school or through a community organization. It didn't all happen the way Mayor de Blasio wanted it to—through a tax on New Yorkers making more than $500,000 a year—but it got done, thanks to $300 million from the state.

Where Things Are Going: The city plans to add about 20,000 more full-day seats next year, with the promise of providing a pre-K seat to any city 4-year-old who wants to take advantage of the program. There's sure to be more scrutiny of the programs as they continue to expand— especially around how they're dealing with students who don't speak English and who have disabilities—whether the programs are finding the right mix between play and getting kids prepared for Kindergarten, and whether all of the quickly-approved programs are safe and well-staffed.

CHARTER SCHOOLS Where Things Are: Mayor de Blasio isn't a fan of charter schools, which he sees as siphoning resources from traditional public schools. But he doesn't have control of their growth, and 17 more were recently approved to open in the city. He also lost a major political and public relations battle in the spring, when an attempt to keep three Success Academy Charter Schools out of public-school buildings led to new state legislation which now requires the city to continued on page 62

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A SCHOOL WHERE PASSION GETS TRACTION When Avenues was getting ready to open its doors, one of our goals was to help every student find something to be passionate about, something to inspire each one to work harder than an upcoming exam ever could.

Part of that effort is an independent study program designed to enable all Upper School students to go deep into subjects that capture their imaginations.

In this year of The World Cup, one student became fascinated by the idea of building a better soccer cleat. To do so, he had to tackle challenges in numerous subject areas, including mathematics, physics, physiology and software design.

As a result, he succeeded in creating his own unique cleat, fabricating every component on the 3-D printer in our iLab. In fact, students have produced a wide range of self-directed projects, mentored by both faculty members and distinguished outside experts. From this printer-generated cleat to an ingenious plan for a social action start-up, students have demonstrated the skills they’ll need to succeed in the modern world—and they’ve applied themselves with a degree of rigor that can only be described as passionate.

We think it’s the best kind of school spirit.

To learn more about Avenues admissions for fall 2015, attend a parent information event. Register at avenues.org or call Avenues admissions at 646.664.0800.

WWW.AVENUES.ORG

259 TENTH AVENUE | NEW YORK WWW. AVENUES.ORG

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Patrick Wall/Chalkbeat NY

spitting out a final grade.

Where Things Are Going: The new reports haven't been released yet for this year, and there may be a backlash when they don't offer clear takeaways for parents. But the reduced emphasis on test scores has been well-received so far.

Above: Chancellor Carmen Fariña

provide space, or funding for space, to charter schools.

Where Things Are Going: The de Blasio administration has to make a number of big decisions. Number one: Will the city allow most of the new charter schools to open inside of public-school buildings, setting up even more co-location tensions, or will the city pay millions of dollars in subsidies for private space instead? And if the city decides to allow the charter schools to open in public spaces, will there be strings attached to require schools to share resources or enroll certain high-needs students?

CHANGES IN THE CITY’S ELITE SELECTIVE HIGH SCHOOLS’ ADMISSIONS POLICIES Where Things Are: Mayor de Blasio has been extremely critical of the admissions processes for the city's elite high schools, including Stuyvesant and Brooklyn Tech, which admit students based on their performance on a single standardized test. But the city has yet to announce any changes to the admissions criteria, which in a few cases will require the help of the state legislature.

Where Things Are Going: Mayor de Blasio could change the policies for five of the schools immediately to include factors like attendance and grade-point averages. It's likely that the de Blasio administration will look to enlist state lawmakers to come up with a solution for all of the schools in time for the next admissions round. But it's not clear if the Mayor has the support he needs, since he faces strong opposition from the schools' alumni groups and many city and state politicians.

SCHOOL REPORT CARDS Where Things Are: A-through-F letter grades for schools have met their end, Chancellor Carmen Fariña announced earlier this month. That's tied to de Blasio’s promise to reduce the emphasis on competition among schools and to reduce the stress caused by state test scores, which made up a large portion of a school's rating. It's important to note that new reports for parents aren't losing much of the data: Test scores are still very much a factor. The reports just aren't

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LOW-PERFORMING SCHOOLS Where Things Are: The de Blasio administration has yet to say much about what it plans to do at schools that are still struggling with low graduation rates and low test scores.

The city owed the state plans for some of those schools this summer, but asked for an extension. Now, critics have latched onto the issue as an example of a weakness in de Blasio's education strategy.

Where Things Are Going: Officials have hinted that the city will unveil a full plan for the schools by January 2015. At other points, de Blasio and Fariña have said their broader plans— like pre-K and more support for parents—add up to help for struggling schools. What’s clear is that de Blasio and Fariña want to avoid closing low-performing schools. New research shows that some of New York City’s small high schools are doing a better job than other schools at graduating their students and sending them to college, but it’s unlikely that this administration will close larger schools in order to create more of them.

COMMUNITY SCHOOLS & AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAMS Where Things Are: Beyond pre-K, the de Blasio administration has promised two other major education initiatives. One was afterschool programs for every middle-schooler, which is rolling out now. The other is an expansion of community schools, which offer wraparound services for students, parents, and local residents, like health services or job training.

Where Things Are Going: City officials are slowly shifting their attention to community schools, but they haven't yet said which schools will be the beneficiaries of the first round of funding. It's also still unclear how enrollment at the after-school programs looks this year. Getting 12-yearolds to stay at school longer than they have to isn't always an easy sell, and the success of the programs will depend on students actually taking part.

COMMON CORE/TEACHER EVALUATIONS/ TEACHING TO THE TEST Where Things Are: Mayor de Blasio and Fariña support the Common Core, a set of reading and math standards that New York State adopted in 2010 that in many cases require teachers to adjust their instruction and students to take on more challenging assignments. The city's move to quickly tie state tests to the new standards and to a new teacher evaluation system led to backlash from many parents and educators, though. State lawmakers have already hit the pause button on using teacher evaluations to punish teachers, and the city is no longer using state test scores as the primary factor in most school admissions or gradepromotion decisions.

Where Things Are Going: Teachers are still trying to figure out how exactly to change what they do to align to the Common Core, a big remaining challenge for the continued on page 66

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NEW YORK FAMILY PARTNER

ONCE A COZY PRESCHOOL TUCKED IN A WEST SIDE BROWNSTONE,

THE MANDELL SCHOOL IS NOW A K-8 INNOVATOR IN

PRIVATE SCHOOL

EDUCATION

By Jennifer Kelly Geddes As the well-known proverb says, from small beginnings come great things. And few places exemplify this truism more than The Mandell School. Founded in 1939 by Max Mandell in a West 94th Street brownstone, the institution was, for many years, a respected preschool favored by locals. A decade ago the school made the decision to add a K-8 program, and corresponding space.

Today, The Mandell School has an expanded footprint on the West Side, and has taken up residence near Lincoln Center and in the West Village. “Students in our K-8 school learn to take positive risks, meet challenge with persistence and come to school each day optimistic and happy,” says Ben Chant, head of the lower school.

“As an educator for over 25 years in the independent school system, I believe the K-8 model is best. Our students develop passions sooner in this community and emerge as leaders, contributing in ways they might not if there was a high school influence.”

The Mandell School boasts small classes for over 500 boys and girls from age 2 to grade 8, and a rigorous curriculum taught with a combination of progressive and traditional styles. Languages start early (Spanish and French) and build each year, culminating in virtual projects with students in France and an eighth grade service trip to an orphanage in the Dominican Republic.

The school’s emphasis on 21st-century integrated learning means a connected, purposeful, and collaborative experience for students. In Mandell’s upper school, grades 5-8, kids use Google Apps for Education and Schoology (like Facebook for education) for synchronous activities with peers as close by as Connecticut and as far flung as France and India.

“These integrated technologies allow us to conduct classes and work on projects that attempt to solve actual problems, like the global water deficit,” explains Tiffany Della Vedova, head of the upper school.

Mandell’s cohesive curriculum is driven in large part by STEAM concepts and starts even in the earliest grades. “STEAM is the newest iteration of STEM (the ‘A’ is for arts) and it includes a focus on design

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Innovative learning in action at The Mandell School.

thinking,” Della Vedova says.

Learning how to create a visual representation of data is just one example of the kind of cutting-edge learning this initiative provides. In short, dull spreadsheets are out, vibrant info graphics are in.

The whole Mandell community comes together annually to participate in Tech Fest, where open classrooms and hands-on workshops are set up so kids and parents can create and learn from each other (think iMovies and Robotics). Global activism is another important theme that Mandell strives to incorporate into the school day.

“In 5-6 grade Global Activism, we often talk about activism, what it means, what it looks like, and then our students set it in motion,” Della Vedova says. Other classes have chosen to focus on such subjects as hunger and the environment, with a group electing to attend this year’s People’s Climate March.

The Mandell School’s award-winning green K-8 building mirrors the school’s modern approach to education (the school has been honored by Blackboard three times for Environmental Awareness). The 50,000-square-ft facility on Columbus Avenue includes a black box theater, gym, technology and science labs, and studios for art and music. Plus, it features recovered glass, sustainable wood, recycled rubber flooring, and metal shelves. Kids run free on an 8,000-square-ft terrace, sharing the space with half a dozen chickens (in a coop, of course) and a garden overflowing with squash, tomatoes, sunflowers, and herbs. The cafeteria, with its wall of lush, live plants, emphasizes zero-waste through a composting program.

“The middle grades are a bridge between childhood and young adulthood, and they’re really some of the best years,” Della Vedova emphasizes. “We’re helping our kids find what they’re passionate about and still have that multidisciplinary, integrated approach that’s so critical to learning and solving problems.”

To learn more about The Mandell School, visit mandellschool.org.

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reTHINK SCHECHTER

Asking questions like Einstein doesn’t just make the grandparents happy.

STEAM education (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts and Mathematics) produces 21st-century learners able to work collaboratively and make creative connections across disciplines. Schechter’s strong focus on STEAM is evident throughout our K-12 curriculum. Our commitment to innovation and new technologies means our students are uniquely prepared to achieve at the highest level – in the classroom, in the lab, in our state-of-the-art Idea Incubator, and in the world.

Open HOuse Lower School nOvember 16, 2014

Middle School December 7, 2014

High School nOvember 2, 2014

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administration. And as they try to de-emphasize state test scores, there is still little the city can do to actually reduce the number of tests students take.

OTHER PARENT-FOCUSED EFFORTS Where Things Are: Fariña has connected almost every one of her policy changes to increasing "parent engagement," something she says the last mayoral administration neglected. The new teacher’s union contract includes time that teachers are required to spend calling or interacting with parents, and she's insisted on longer parent conferences, among other initiatives.

Where Things Are Going: We're about to see the city start rewarding schools for making sure parents feel involved.

This school year will be a good test of whether navigating the school system feels different to parents, or if other frustrations (like the city's delay in updating middle school admissions criteria, for example) get in the way.

accelerates from the start, but a very high percentage of its students stay the course and thrive.

This is because, for one thing, they are given the support and encouragement they need, with more than one teacher in the classroom in the early grades and good teacher-student ratios all the way through. Another critical factor, in Thompson’s view, is that BASIS hires exceptional teachers and gives them a lot of leeway in the classroom to teach as they see fit—as long as they are reaching their students. BASIS incorporates STEM-based learning from the earliest grades, but is fundamentally a liberal arts school, where students often finish their required courses by the end of their junior year—and use their senior year for special projects (and for getting into many really good colleges). One more special aspect of BASIS Independent Brooklyn: Its tuition is substantially lower than most New York City private schools.

For more info, visit basisindependentbrooklyn.com.

FARIÑA VS. HER PREDECESSORS Where Things Are: Fariña is at a decided advantage when talking to teachers and principals: She's a lifelong educator who is intimately familiar with the city's school system. That has engendered a high level of trust among educators—see the standing ovations she got when taking over the school system earlier in the year.

She also has made a habit of offering specific (often extremely specific) recommendations to teachers and principals about everything from teaching history to classroom decorations.

Where Things Are Going: Some educators seem hungry for more specific long-term plans. But her credibility when it comes to instruction isn't going away anytime soon.

Chalkbeat is a nonprofit news organization covering educational change efforts in the communities where improvement matters most. The network has bureaus in New York, Colorado, Indiana, and Tennessee (so far). For more Chalkbeat coverage, visit chalkbeat.org. You can contact Sarah Darville at sdarville@chalkbeat.org.

The BASIS Of Success Few schools, let alone a chain of schools, can claim the extraordinary academic success of the BASIS Schools, whose students consistently test above the highest-ranking school systems in the world. With one of their new schools— and their first one in New York City—having opened in Brooklyn in September, local parents want to understand the unique blend of factors that contribute to its success.

The name of the new local school is BASIS Independent Brooklyn. The use of the word “independent” is kind of a tip-off to the fact that while most of the schools under the BASIS umbrella are charter schools, the one in Brooklyn has been set up as a private school. It’s one of two new private schools—the other is in Silicon Valley—that BASIS has opened this year, though its approach to learning is the same as at all the other BASIS schools.

As it’s been described by the head of BASIS Independent Brooklyn, Rosalind Thompson, the BASIS curriculum

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The Multilingual Movement Bilingual early education programs are becoming increasingly widespread in New York, as parents seek to capitalize on their intellectual benefits. We spoke with experts from two of the city’s leading programs to learn more about the benefits, misconceptions, and logistics of bilingual instruction. Sharon Huang is the founder of the pre-K-5 HudsonWay Immersion School (formerly Bilingual Buds), which offers a full immersion program in Mandarin for 2-year-olds, and 80 percent instruction in the second language for grades K-2. Nancy Schulman is head of the Early Learning Center at Avenues: The World School, where students start Spanish or Mandarin from age 3, and receive 50 percent of their instruction in the second language through grade 4.

What’s primarily motivating the growing interest in early language education: Is it parents wanting to prepare their children for a future in which the world is more and more inter-connected, or to provide their children with the intellectual and cultural benefits of growing up bilingual?

Nancy Schulman: I would say that both of these factors are equally motivating.

Sharon Huang: It varies... Those who work in business may want their children to be multilingual for more career opportunities. Those in academia and who have researched brain development know that immersion develops children who are smarter and can think critically. Others who are culturally diverse want their children to be able to view the world from at least two different lenses, because it makes them a broader thinker. Finally, those who have a connection [to another language] through heritage may want their children to be able to use language to speak with family members and have a deeper understanding of their culture. continued on page 68

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Even though many children (and especially children of immigrants) have been growing up bilingual forever, I know that some parents are a bit intimidated by the proposition. So what’s it like to be in a bilingual nursery program, and what are some of the big misconceptions that parents have?

NS: A couple of misconceptions parents have are that a child or family has to already have second language experience, that children will fall behind in English language areas, and that parents will not be able to support their child's learning if they don't speak the language.

SH: We see young English-speaking monolingual children (many as young as 2) transition very easily into our full Mandarin immersion environment. Parents sometimes fear that having all the instruction 100 percent in Mandarin will be too intimidating or too difficult, when in fact at this age—because the brain is naturally wired to acquire language—the learning process comes very naturally…

Exposure to a second language stretches their brains in ways that monolingual children do not experience.

Another misconception parents have is that their children will fall behind in knowledge of English and be at a disadvantage applying to Kindergarten. In fact, research supports the opposite to be true, since skills and content from one language are transferable to another.

In your respective schools’ particular approaches, what does immersion look like? Teaching-wise, how does one alternate between the languages, if at all? Why do you take this approach?

SH: We have based our model on the learnings and research of other successful immersion programs. We teach English language arts daily, and every other week we also teach math in English. The rest of the subjects…are all taught in Mandarin. The fact that students stay longer in the target language forces the brain to work in that language, thus creating the “cognitive stretch” that creates faster and more accurate brains.

NS: Alternating days are spent in English and immersion…

When they are in the immersion classroom, the teachers are speaking to the children in either Spanish or Chinese. The teachers use games, songs, visuals, and body language and gestures to make the language comprehensible. [Students] are not being taught the language but are being taught "in" the language.

To learn more about the HudsonWay Immersion School, visit hwis.org; and to learn more about Avenues: The World School, visit avenues.org.

The Downtown Express With more families staying in the city, there’s been a lot of pressure on public officials to provide more public schools.

And with a flurry of school openings in recent years, there now seem to be fewer stories of people being shut out of

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their neighborhood public schools (but there are still stories of overcrowded classrooms).

With many affluent families among the rising tide of those staying in the city, there’s also been a spurt of new private school options, with most growth taking place downtown and in Brooklyn. There are still many more established private schools farther north—between all the schools on the Upper East Side, Upper West Side, and in Riverdale— but it’s clear that the new downtown schools are attracting families from all over the city, including a sizable number of downtown families who, a few years ago, would have been more likely to send their kids uptown.

On the downtown front, the Big Kahuna is Avenues: The World School, which is located in Chelsea. Since opening its doors in the fall of 2012, Avenues has already become one of the most populous private schools in the city, and still has more seats to fill, primarily in the upper grades. Guided by stalwart and distinguished educators, Avenues has nevertheless managed to appeal to parents as a truly fresh option, with an emphasis on global culture and connection, language, and technology, among other qualities.

Recently joining the ranks of prominent private school openings on the southern side of the city are BASIS Independent in Brooklyn, and the Pine Street School in the Financial District. Two more in recent years: World Class Learning Academy on the Lower East Side, and Léman Manhattan, which is in part a boarding school, are also in the Financial District. Jennifer Jones, the founder of the Pine Street School, explains her choice in location as one based on, among other things, a sense of community.

“First and foremost, I chose Lower Manhattan because I am a resident of the area, having lived in Battery Park City for many years, and having raised my 6-year-old son in this neighborhood,” she says. “I feel a sense of devotion and personal connection to Lower Manhattan, the history, the beauty, the dynamic nature of it. Then, given the dramatic rise in families in the last few years and the need for more school options, I felt that I could offer a quality solution. It felt right to take my knowledge of the area and connection as a local mom and convert that into a real asset for the community.”

For more information on these schools, visit avenuesnyc. org, basisindependentbrooklyn.com, greenivyschools.com, wclacademy.org, and lemanmanhattan.org.

Full STEM Ahead Even though schools have been teaching science, technology, engineering, and math for about as long as these subjects have existed, suddenly everyone seems to be adding a big dose of STEM to their schools. To find out what STEM’s all about, we turned to two great sources.

Kim Magloire, the founder of SciTech Kids, which offers enrichment classes in science and technology for children from 3-12, and Eric C. Nastasi, Esq., director of advancement at the Smithsonian Science Education Center, whose STEMbased curriculum is used in schools across the country, and continued on page 71

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Come learn more at any, or all, of the following events: Tuesdays and Thursdays: Tea. Talk, and Tours 9:30-11:00 AM and 1:00-2:30 PM Open House/Information Session: Thursday, November 20th from 6-8 PM RSVP: 212-600-2010, Lily Lufuluabo

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NEW YORK FAMILY PARTNER ARS students at the American Museum of Natural History.

THE

ALEXANDER ROBERTSON SCHOOL A 225-YEAR-OLD INSTITUTION WITH MUCH TO OFFER IN 2014

By Whitney Harris There is perhaps no decision as important to the parent of a young child as choosing an elementary school. With a multitude of factors to consider, it can be difficult to decide where to begin. So why not start 225 years ago?

In 1789 the Alexander Robertson School first opened to educate the sons and daughters of “farmers and common folks.”

Now based on the Upper West Side, the school was founded by the Second Presbyterian Church (also known as “The Scot’s Church) and its generous namesake, Alexander Robertson. ARS stands today as one of the earliest schools in the country, and one of the oldest co-educational institutions in New York City.

Founded the same year that George Washington became president, the Alexander Robertson School’s history is flush with civic purpose. Taking inspiration from the importance placed on literacy in Scotland during the 18th-century enlightenment, ARS was established with a deeply considered focus on learning. It was intended to serve the children of ordinary citizens, or those who were not members of the landed gentry. “The way out of oppression was education. They believed that with every fiber of their being,” chairman of the School Committee Bram Lewis says of the school’s benefactors. “And there are other great cultures that have embraced that principle, such as the Jewish tradition.”

While seamlessly blending such traditions with modern-day ideals, ARS maintains the progressive precept of “empowerment through education” for students of all backgrounds. In fact, Alexander Robertson was founded on these inclusive principles, and remains wonderfully diverse to this day. While the Second Presbyterian Church still operates the school, it does so from an ecumenical standpoint, teaching the children about all world faiths throughout the school year without dedicating one class to the study of religion or chapel attendance.

In a similar way, ethics is imbued in teachings during the day, giving students a more holistic understanding of personal morals and character. With an emphasis on qualities like gratitude, compassion, generosity, courage, and respect, ARS fosters a nurturing environment that honors the spirit of its “singular and rich heritage,” as Lewis notes. As one of the only elementary schools in the city to teach ethics, ARS’s former

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headmistress, the Reverend Leslie Merlin, takes students on service trips to a food pantry, where they gain a sense of the larger community. This encourages the children to “look at the world and ask questions,” Lewis says.

In describing his introduction to ARS three years ago, Lewis remarks: “What I found was a warm, caring community with wonderful teachers, a beautiful campus, and a range of learning that reflected the diversity of the world outside.”

With just 12 students per class and one class per grade, the community is intentionally intimate so that teachers can really get to know each child’s learning style, while helping students of all abilities and interests grow into active classroom participants.

Beyond keeping class sizes small, ARS has many fresh and exciting offerings, including a new headmaster—the esteemed and accomplished educator Irwin Shlachter—who brings new energy to the school; the introduction of a highly interactive writer’s workshop that originated at Columbia’s Teachers College; an expanded Kindergarten; and the school’s very first pre-K program. Yet another feather in the school’s cap is its selection by the Smithsonian Science Education Center as the first in New York State to teach its Science and Technology Concepts (STEM) curriculum, a more inquiryfocused and integrated approach to learning.

The students at ARS not only receive the benefit of an education in the cultural hub that is the Upper West Side, but they also get to participate in a set of time-honored traditions, including a yearly blessing, or “Kirking,” of the school every September. Starting in the Carnegie Library, an official procession makes its way up Central Park West while bagpipers play “Scotland the Brave.” Last year, the school also participated in New York’s Tartan Week Parade. Picture this: Students and teachers donned plaid kilts to march proudly with the school’s banner, while others cartwheeled up 6th Avenue.

Now that’s school spirit.

To learn more about the Alexander Robertson School, visit alexanderrobertson.org.

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locally at the Alexander Robertson School. We also spoke with educators at two local schools—the Hewitt School and the Rodeph Sholom School—to get a sense of what STEM really looks like in the classroom.

What does STEM commonly mean?

Kim Magloire: STEM is an acronym that stands for science, technology, engineering, and mathematics.

Traditionally, math and science have been taught separately and most of the time are independent from each other. A STEM curriculum combines science, math, engineering, and technology into an integrated learning experience. Basically, students participate in project-based, collaborative activities that require them to apply STEM topics to understand and solve real-world problems.

Why is STEM important?

Eric Nastasi: We live in an era of constant scientific discovery and technological change. STEM education equips us with opportunities to improve life for people across the world, and chances to be better stewards of our natural resources. As our economy increasingly depends on these revolutionary new advances, many new jobs will be created in STEM fields. If we are to stay competitive as a nation, then we need to build a scientifically literate citizenry and a bank of highly skilled, STEM-literate employees. In 2011, 26 million US jobs (about 20 percent of the workforce) required in-depth knowledge in at least one of the STEM fields. However, these STEM jobs are not just growing for those with higher educational degrees. In a report titled “The Hidden STEM Economy,” the Brookings Institution states that “half of all STEM jobs are available to workers without a four-year college degree, and these jobs pay… 10 percent higher than jobs with similar educational requirements.”

Is one of STEM’s overriding impulses a feeling that, beyond early exposure, subjects like science and technology can be better taught to children, and made more inviting, relevant, and fun?

KM: Absolutely! Research shows that, by the time children reach the third grade, many are turned off to science because they find it difficult, dull, or confusing. Suddenly science involves the rote memorization of facts and is no longer fun or relevant. Young children need to experience science and math as an engaging, collaborative process of inquiry and discovery. When children are placed in the role of an investigator, and immersed in hands-on activities that draw upon their sense of curiosity, they learn these subjects better.

How’s a parent to know whether a school or program is doing a good job of introducing STEM or is just kind of riding the trend in a superficial way?

KM: As a parent, the key to identifying a high-quality STEM program is to ask the following questions: Are

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students encouraged to explore and come up with ideas? Does the program engage students in the scientific or design process? Do students address a real-world problem? Do they work in teams to solve this problem? Are there multiple possible solutions?

And are the principles of STEM (critical thinking, asking good questions, observation, and exploration) truly at the heart of every discipline? If so, you are dealing with a quality STEM-based program. Another question to ask would be if the teachers received any professional development and ongoing support. And does the school have outside partners such as universities, STEM-based companies, or businesses?

EN: Parents also need to know that they are critical in ensuring quality STEM education. When you see a school or district with a thriving, fruitful STEM curriculum, you can bet that a community of active and passionate parents is behind it.

For an expanded version of Full STEM Ahead, visit newyorkfamily.com. For more on SciTech Kids, visit sci-techkids.com; for more on the Smithsonian Science Education Center, visit ssec.si.edu.

STEM IN ACTION From Chris Weaver, the STEM coordinator and chair of the science department at the Hewitt School: “We like to teach [STEM] in a way that brings the disciplines together and encourages students to solve real problems. One great example with younger students was a school day in which parents were invited into the lab to work with the third grade students. The students were given simple circuits, lights, batteries and other basic components—including art supplies— and were asked to make things. They were the leaders, the parents were their assistants. Well, they made helicopters, kinetic sculptures, one girl made something we called a Confetti Shooter. And though it was all good fun, it was also a wonderful experience in STEM learning—engineering, design, science—and problem solving.”

From Laurie Piette, the director of studies at the Rodeph Sholom School: “Stem is infused throughout our curriculum. We’ve even changed the name of their science fair to a STEM Expo, requiring projects that reflect range of skills that STEM requires. The idea is to use technology to deepen the curriculum in ways that expand our students’ understanding of topics (not to mention their 21st-century skills at presentation).

At the same time, we’re very concerned about digital citizenship, and digital misuse. There is a difference between mindless screen time and developing concrete ideas through technology that help children learn productively.”

For more on the Hewitt School, visit hewittschool. org; for more on the Rodeph Sholom School, visit rodephsholomschool.org.

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NEW YORK FAMILY PARTNER

WILLIAMSBURG NORTHSIDE SCHOOLS

PROVIDE KIDS

(AND PARENTS) WITH A

HOME AWAY

FROM HOME

By Lauren Vespoli

Williamsburg Northside Lower School students.

Many parents want more than a school—they want a place like Williamsburg Northside, where their children are not simply taught, but encouraged to explore their passions as they develop a strong academic foundation.

Founded in 1999, Williamsburg Northside Schools is comprised of three core programs. The Infant and Toddler Center, which moves to 70 Havemeyer Street this Fall, provides daycare and early childhood education up to age 2. The Preschool, located at 152 North 5th Street, encompasses the 2s and 3s program. The Pre-Kindergarten program is housed with the Lower School for K-4th grade at 299 North 7th Street, a new and beautiful location, which includes large terraces, a science lab, and a middle school-sized gym.

Though the schools are housed in different buildings, the Reggio Emilia philosophy of education unites them with its thoughtful and caring approach to education.

Reggio Emilia emphasizes a child’s agency in the learning process—they are encouraged to explore what interests them, developing their passions and collaborative skills through project-based learning. Additionally, teachers might supply provocations to children to help stimulate interesting investigations.

“A core value and critical component to the mission of our school is to be respectful of children. We believe they are strong and capable in their own right,” says Gina Farrar, head of all the Northside Schools. Farrar began her career in education as math teacher at a New York independent school, and has a PhD in psychology, and more than 15 years of experience as a school administrator.

Classes are small, in order to maximize individual student attention. Within the Lower School, which encompasses K-4th grade (and next year, 5th grade), classes are generally no larger than 20 students. At the new 299 North 7th Street building, the classrooms are warm and welcoming, carefully arranged and curated by both the teachers and their students, as the Reggio Emilia philosophy believes that the environment is the third teacher.

“That’s a huge part of the Reggio Emilia philosophy,” says Teresa Smith, Northside’s admissions director. “It’s the romantic Italian [ideal]—children should be surrounded by beautiful things in organized spaces that are inspired.”

Williamsburg Northside is especially unique is its

application of Reggio Emilia, famous in preschools and early childhood programs, to an elementary school setting.

Project work is incorporated into the curriculum in the Social Studies course, starting in Kindergarten.

“Usually the teacher spends a good bit of time observing the children and figuring out what they are interested in, so that they can make a project out of it,” Smith explains. For example, a 1st grade class might work through a unit on the “needs and wants of community” by choosing to study food and visiting an organic farm. As students grow older, enrichments are also added to their days—Pre-K students enjoy library time, art, PE, and music; Spanish and science are added in Kindergarten.

“Our goals are slightly different with different age groups…but we do want to challenge and inspire our children in our Lower School to really be excited about learning, and to delve deeply and learn to think abstractly and critically,” Farrar says.

The caring Reggio philosophy, combined with Northside’s individual focus on ensuring each child’s success, provides its students with the skills to achieve wherever they may go next. “I think what I love most is that children come through this program and end up going to a variety of different places, all being very successful,” Smith says.

What also remains constant, from infancy through 4th grade, is Northside’s warm community. Teachers from all three schools meet at least once per week, and look for opportunities to engage all of the programs with each other, such as a shared snack or Thanksgiving potlucks.

And, like the students, Northside parents have built their own vibrant support network.

“I started here a year ago, and the first day that school opened, the parents were just excited to see each other as the children,” Farrar says.

“The inspiration, the philosophy, the quality of the teaching staff, and how we maintain group sizes, those are the things that families are coming here for,” Smith says. “And also the environment—the environment is really important. Parents can see their child living here, five days a week in this beautiful classroom that looks like a little home set up just for them.”

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For more information, visit willnorth.org.

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NEW YORK FAMILY PARTNER

ASK THE ADMISSIONS EXPERT • Harlem Hebrew is a tuition-free public charter school focusing on an immersion approach to Modern Israeli Hebrew and the study of Israeli culture and history • Harlem Hebrew has two-three teachers in a classroom throughout the day • Harlem Hebrew provides its students with outstanding instruction across all curriculum areas • Our curriculum is individualized, differentiated and designed to meet each individual child’s needs • Harlem Hebrew uses the Teachers College Reader’s and Writer’s Workshop Model • Harlem Hebrew is located at 147 St. Nicholas Avenue, between 117th and 118th Streets in Manhattan • DOE yellow bus transportation may be available for students living less than 5 miles from Harlem Hebrew • Seats available now in grades K, 1 and 2 for this school year • Call us at 212-866-4608 for more information about how to get your child enrolled!

• ALL ARE WELCOME!!

THE TOP 3 CONCERNS FOR SPECIAL NEEDS FAMILIES IN THE PLACEMENT PROCESS

By Frederica McLean, Special Needs and Educational Consultant 1. Will we find a placement for our student(s)?

We often caution, in our welcome call and many times during the process, that it can be lengthy and frustrating, especially when looking for a placement for a student with special needs. Even though this is the case, it doesn’t change the fact that there is a good fit for every student. It just may take a little bit longer to ensure that the priority pieces are present. With patience and time, the best fit can be found for every student, no matter their learning need.

For more information or to complete an application, visit our website or contact us!

(212) 866-4608 • info@harlemhebrewcharter.org

www.harlemhebrewcharter.org

147 St. Nicholas Avenue, New York, NY 10026

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2. A friend or colleague of mine got into a certain school and their child has the same diagnosis as mine, so this is where I want my student to go. Is this possible?

Although individuals may carry the same diagnosis and engage in some of the 6:10 PM same behaviors, it doesn’t mean that they present exactly the same, because there are differences in family involvement, culture, personality, etc. Each school will conduct their own evaluation of the student in their environment to see if it is a good fit. We encourage every family to view their child as a custom case, that is unique in their own way, so that we can search for what is the best fit for them.

La Scuola D´Italia is a private unique Italian / English bilingual and bicultural school reflecting the best features of the Italian and American education.

Knowledge of the Italian / English language is not a prerequisite for admission to Pre-K through 9th grade.

La Scuola D´IItalia is chartered by the Board of Regents of the State of New York and by the Ministry of Education of the Republic of Italy. The school is a member of the New York State Association of Independent Schools.

OPEN HOUSE Preschool & Elementary

November 4th from 4:30-6:30 pm.

Middle School & High School

November 6th from 4:30-6:30 pm.

www.lascuoladitalia.org Tel. 212.369.3290 email: secretary@lascuoladitalia.org

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3. I just want to focus on getting my child into the best school for them—we will consider everything else afterwards.

While the educational placement is the priority for special needs families, we encourage holistic placements. Finding a school that seems to be perfect but is in a neighborhood that is not conducive to your family’s lifestyle, or creates more barriers than opportunities, is not the best fit. A “holistic placement” ensures that the whole family is happy and the school meets their student’s needs.

If you have any Ask the Admissions Expert questions or any other questions regarding school placement in New York City, please contact info@schoolsearchsolutions.com.

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The Hewitt School

November

OPEN

Houses

Contact: Amy Jablonski, Director of Admissions 212-994-2599 ajablonski@hewittschool.org www.hewittschool.org Upper School Open House: Grades 9-12 November 20th, 5:30pm – 7:30pm Location: 45 East 75th Street, New York, NY 10021

Solomon Schechter School of Westchester Lower School Contact: Admissions Office 914-948-3111 ext. 4370 LSadmissions@schechterwestchester.org www.schechterwestchester.org Open House: November 16th 9:30am-12:00pm Location: 30 Dellwood Road, White Plains, NY 10605

Battery Park Montessori

The Master’s School

Contact: Alix Young, Parent Liaison 212-235-2320 info@greenivy.com www.greenivy.com Ages: 2 – Kindergarten Open House: Tues-Thursday at 10am.

Reservation required.

Location: 21 South End Avenue in Battery Park City

Contact: 914-479-6420 admission@mastersny.com www.mastersny.com 5th – 12th Grade Day; 9th – 12th Boarding Middle School Open House: November 8th, 12PM Tour 1PM Program Upper School Open House: November 15th, 12PM Tour 1PM Program Location: 49 Clinton Avenue, Dobbs Ferry, NY 10522

York Preparatory School Contact: Admissions Office 212-362-0400 ext. 133 jcurrent@yorkprep.org www.yorkprep.org Grades 6-12 Open House Dates: November 4th, 11th, and 18th 9:10am-10:30am Location: 40 West 68th Street New York, NY 10023

Williamsburg Northside Schools Contact: Kendra Anderson 718-599-9600 x6068 kanderson@willnorth.org www.willnorth.org Ages K-5 Open House Dates: November 6th & 18th 6:30pm-7:30pm Location: Lower School 299 North 7th Street, Brooklyn, NY

Dwight School Contact: Nora Thomson, Director of Admissions, Early Childhood Division 212-362-2350 x308 nthomson@dwight.edu www.dwight.edu Preschool 2s and 3s Open House Dates: November 5th, 12, and 18th Location: 66th Street and Riverside Boulevard, New York, NY 10069

Solomon Schechter School of Westchester High School

Alexander Robertson School Contact: Joan Harrison 212-663-2844 jharrison@alexanderrobertson.org www.alexanderrobertson.org Grades: Pre-K through Grade 5 Open House Dates: Thursdays at 9:45am from September 18th to December 18th or by appointment.

Location: 3 West 95th Street (CPW & Columbus) NY 10025

Basis Independent Brooklyn Contact: Alexandra Hancock 718-643-6302 admissions@BASISindependentBrooklyn.com www.BASISindpendentbrooklyn.com Grades K-9 (growing K-12) Location: Multiple Dates in the Fall/Winter (see website) 556 Columbia Street, Brooklyn, NY 11231

World Class Learning Academy Contact: Dr. Lillian Diaz-Imbelli 212-600-2910 L.imbelli@gmail.com www.wclschools.org 2,3,Nursery – middle school Tuesday & Thursday mornings by appointment Location: 44 East 2nd Street, NY, NY 10003 (between 2nd and 1st avenues)

Contact: Admission Office 914-948-8333 ext. 8110 usadmissions@schechterwestchester.org www.schechterwestchester.org Open House: November 2nd 9:30am-12:00pm Location: 555 West Hartsdale Avenue, Hartsdale, NY 10530

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home&away

REAL ESTATE

RISE

Hayes Davidson

ON THE

The Greenwich Lane

A Roundup of NYC’s Most Family-Friendly New Buildings & Classic Properties— All With Multi-Bedroom Units And Amazing Kids’ Amenities (Part I) Edited by Lauren Vespoli Before the 2008 recession, real estate developers had seized on an opportunity in the growing number of families choosing to raise their children in New York, and began to flood the market with new residential buildings boasting family-minded amenities. Now that the economy is on the upswing, more families are once again settling down in the NYC metro area, and developers have responded with another influx of exciting new buildings. This list is the first installment of a two-part roundup featuring many of these new developments, along with some classic family properties. We hope this list of buildings will help home-hunting families in their quest for the perfect new pad. Check out our December 2014 issue to see the rest of the properties in print, or view them all right now at newyorkfamily.com.

EAST SIDE 1110 Park Avenue Situated in the heart of Carnegie Hill, this boutique condominium features nine luxury residences that mirror the classic tradition of the neighborhood. The customdesigned homes range from 3-5 bedrooms, and from 2,8507,000 square feet. With proximity to Central Park, Museum Mile, and within immediate walking distance of many of the city’s top private schools, including Dalton, Ramaz, Spence, Trevor Day, and Horace Mann, 1110 Park Avenue provides luxe city living in a prime family location. Residence pricing ranges from $15-44 million. 1110parkave.com

Philip House | 141 East 88th Street Philip House is a classic prewar condominium residence reimagined for modern life. While retaining the authenticity of an Upper East Side home, its interiors have been entirely rebuilt by celebrated interior designer Victoria Hagan, who has expertly incorporated modern touches. The floor plans www.newyorkfamily.com

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at Philip House have been thoughtfully reconfigured and opened up to allow for greater natural light. A rare find in Carnegie Hill, Philip House captures the grace of tradition and the casual ease of a contemporary lifestyle. Family amenities include a playroom designed with soft furniture and a chalk wall for the little ones, and a game room for teens. The music practice room provides a space for residents to hone their skills. Residences for sale range in size from 1,350-square-foot two-bedrooms to 4,710-squarefoot five-bedrooms, and are priced from $2.995 million to approximately $16 million. Many units at Philip House have been combined to meet the high demand for larger homes on the Upper East Side, resulting in spacious four-bedrooms and up. philiphouse.com

60 East 86th Street Nestled on the family-friendly Upper East Side, 60 East 86th is a distinctive new condominium offering 15 fullfloor residences designed by the internationally renowned Thomas Juul-Hansen, with sales through Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group. Presented by the principals of Glenwood, 60 East 86th is one of the few new construction offerings in the neighborhood and brings a fresh, sophisticated design to the market, while encompassing the warmth of home.

The building puts an emphasis on family with its large, open layouts and private terraces for select residences.

The building also offers a children’s playroom, bike storage, and library for residents to enjoy. Sixty East 86th features three- and four-bedroom residences, including three unique multi-level homes: The triplex townhouse, tenth floor duplex and triplex penthouse. Pricing starts at approximately $7.05 million for a three-bedroom home, and goes up to approximately $20 million for the triplex penthouse.

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345 Caroll Street

252 East 57th Street At the eastern end of Manhattan’s 57th Street luxury residential corridor, the collection of 93 custom private condominiums at 252 East 57th are privy to beautiful views through the 65-story building’s curved glass curtain wall, designed by the award-winning architectural firm Skidmore Owings Merrill. Two-fifty-two’s curated amenities include something for the whole family: parents can exercise in the 75-foot indoor swimming pool and unwind in the sauna, while little ones can enjoy their own playroom—and the whole family can gather together at the music and DJ room, billiard room, or screening room. Prices start at $4.3 million.

252e57.com

center and a racquetball court. There’s also a landscaped and furnished outdoor terrace. “What our residents love most about the West River House is the sense of community they feel living here,” says Confetti Raz, vice president of sales, leasing and marketing at Manhattan Skyline. “The children’s playroom is really popular, and the residents’ lounge is great for parents and friends who want to get together.” The neighborhood also boasts cultural and recreational delights such as Zabar’s, the Children’s Museum of Manhattan, the American Museum of Natural History, Riverside Park, and Central Park, all minutes away. Two-bedrooms range from approximately $5,300-6,900 per month and three-bedrooms from $8,000-10,000 per month. westriverhousenyc.com

WEST SIDE

210 West 77

732 West End Avenue

The Upper West Side’s 210 West 77 is an 18-story condominium building with 25 luxury residences, designed

by Thomas Juul-Hansen and inspired by natural materials and Danish modernism. The new building is situated near Central Park and family destinations including the American Museum of Natural History and Riverside Park. Apartments range in size from 2,058-square-foot three-bedrooms to a 5,973-square-foot duplex penthouse with outdoor space.

Every residence will be privately accessible by an elevator that opens directly into the residence. “Two-Ten West 77 presented a unique opportunity to innovate architecturally while respecting of the character and beauty of the Upper West Side historic district,” says Miki Naftali, founder, chairman, and CEO of the Naftali Group. Prices for the apartments range from $4.85-21 million. 210west77.com

732 West End Avenue combines modern luxury with the traditional elegance of Manhattan’s historic Upper West Side. Just steps away from Riverside Park, the location is ideal for families, who will gain unparalleled access to a wide array of dining, shopping, cultural, and entertainment destinations. Thoughtfully designed floor plans feature gracious living and dining rooms with city and park views, chef-caliber kitchens, and multiple en-suite bedrooms.

Masterfully crafted woodwork, ventless living room fireplaces, and state-of-the-art home automation systems are among the many luxurious in-residence features. Select amenities and services include a fitness center, media room, and live-in property staff. Full-floor three-bedroom homes begin at $2.625 million; a duplex four-bedroom penthouse is priced at $7.9 million; and a triplex three-bedroom maisonette is priced at $4.75 million. 732wea.com

West River House | 424 West End Avenue Located in a prime area of the Upper West Side on West End Avenue and 81st Street, Manhattan Skyline’s West River House is a full-service, luxury doorman building. All apartments are generously-sized 1-3 bedroom homes, many of which have river and city views, balconies and terraces, and some with fireplaces. The amenities floor offers a wealth of activities: For children, there’s a large playroom equipped with toys, books, and space for the little ones to roam around. For the athlete, there’s a fully-staffed fitness

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Gotham West | 550 West 45th Street Located in the heart of the bourgeoning Hell’s Kitchen neighborhood at West 45th Street and 11th Avenue, Gotham West offers a range of two-and three-bedroom floor plans, perfect for growing families. Developed by Gotham Organization, Inc., the building boasts a variety of family-friendly amenities, including a full-service concierge and a 15,000-square-foot lounge. Children can socialize in their own playroom, complete with state-of-the-art Apple computers, books, games, and puzzles. Kid-friendly films will be screened on the rooftop in the summertime, and complimentary breakfast is offered daily in the amenity www.newyorkfamily.com

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space’s demo kitchen. The building is situated near a number of notable attractions, including Gotham West Market, the Intrepid Sea, Air & Space Museum, Chelsea Piers, and Hudson River Park. A number of schools are also nearby including Holy Cross School, Midtown West School, Elias Howe School, and the exclusive private day school, Avenues: the World School. Two-bedroom rentals start at $6,120, and three-bedroom rentals start at $7,990. gothamwestnyc.com

DOWNTOWN Peter Cooper Village & Stuyvesant Town Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town both offer a downtown oasis from Manhattan’s craziness. These rare NYC finds offer plenty of outdoor space for the kids to let off some steam, with 80 acres of green space, five themed playgrounds, an indoor playspace by apple seeds, and an on-site daycare. Plus, the apartments are as big as it gets in the neighborhood. Two-bedroom rentals are as large as 1,223 square feet, with prices starting at $3,949. Prices for threebedrooms start at $5,100. Situated next to the East Village and Gramercy, Stuy Town is surrounded by excitement, yet completely insulated from the madness. pcvstliving.com

The Greenwich Lane | 140, 150, and 160 West 12th Street; 155 and 145 West 11th Street; and five townhouses on West 11th Street

LeFrak City “With a limited number of larger-sized luxury residences in the area, 345 Carroll Street is filling a void by delivering thoughtfully-designed, spacious homes with exceptional craftsmanship and amenities,” says Gregory Katz, partner of Sterling Equities. Pricing for two-bedrooms ranges from $1.65-1.7 million; three-bedrooms range from $2-3 million; and four-bedrooms from approximately $2.8-3.7 million.

345carroll.com

123 on the Park | 123 Parkside Avenue

The Greenwich Lane is a multi-building project developed by the Rudin Family in the heart of the West Village. With incredible family amenities connecting the buildings, such as a children’s playroom designed by Roto, a private, 14,000-square-foot courtyard garden, and an indoor swimming pool, the Greenwich Lane is a perfect downtown oasis for families. “The West Village is one of the most desired family-friendly areas in New York, and the Greenwich Lane offers a lifestyle and package of amenities that makes it a first of its kind in this great neighborhood,” says Samantha Rudin, vice president of Rudin Management Company, Inc. Two-bedrooms start at $4.3 million, and three-bedrooms start at $6.9 million. thegreenwichlane.com

One-twenty-three on the Park, exclusively represented by aptsandlofts.com, is a new seven-story luxury rental development located in the Prospect Park South area of Brooklyn. The building was once home to the former Caledonian Hospital Center, and was recently redeveloped

by Clipper Equity and the Chetrit Group. One-twenty-three on the Park features a mix of studios and 1-3-bedroom apartments. The development offers top-of-the-line amenities for residents of all ages, including a state-of-theart fitness center, a yoga studio, game lounge, a children’s playroom, and a furnished common roof deck overlooking Prospect Park. Prospect Park serves as a personal backyard for residents—the building is located across the street—and makes playtime easy. Pricing for available two-bedroom rentals begins at $3,300. 123onthepark.com

Gateway Battery Park City

QUEENS

In a prime location in the heart of Battery Park City, this 1,700-unit complex boasts spacious residences with iconic views of the Hudson River and Statue of Liberty, a beautifully landscaped roof deck, a residents’ courtyard and a seasonal pool. Its amenities for children are equally impressive: In addition to a playroom stocked with toys, books, and a chalk wall, the complex offers exclusive classes for kiddie residents through the NY Kids Club at the Manhattan Battery Park Gateway Child Enrichment Center.

Two-bedroom rentals start at $4,895, and three-bedroom rentals start at $6,775. gatewayny.com

LeFrak City | Corona, Queens

BROOKLYN 345 Carroll Street Complete with a pet grooming station, a fitness center, and a children’s playroom, this luxurious full-service building is located in the heart of Carroll Gardens, one of Brooklyn’s most desirable neighborhoods. Keeping with the neighborhood’s legendary history, 345 Carroll Street not only boasts views of of the garden-lined brownstones, but also its residents’ own 5,300-square-foot private garden. www.newyorkfamily.com

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In the center of Corona, Queens, the new LeFrak City offers a range of comfortable and spacious apartments. The development, spanning over 40 acres, is home to 14,000 residents, and offers two- and three-bedroom homes with spacious living rooms, and contemporary kitchens in newly renovated apartments. LeFrak’s City’s vast amenities are perfect for families of every size, and include a swimming pool, tennis courts, playgrounds, and a gourmet grocery store. Furthermore, the community’s proximity to Queens Center Mall and Rego Park Center, and a variety of restaurants on Austin Street and along Queens Boulevard provide a variety of exciting dining options. Two-bedroom rentals start at $1,895, and three-bedrooms start at $2,395. lefrakcity.com

TO SEE MORE OF THE CITY’S MOST FAMILY-FRIENDLY BUILDINGS VISIT NEWYORKFAMILY.COM & STAY TUNED FOR PART II IN OUR DECEMBER ISSUE November 2014 | New York Family 77

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home&away

QUALITY TIME

Photo courtesy of Hiho Batik.

BATIK BOUTIQUE An Ancient Art Comes Together With Modern Style & Plenty Of Fun Activity Options At Brooklyn’s Hiho Batik

By Tiffany Lu

Robyn Stylman and Julia Silver Gordon at the Hiho Batik store.

In an age where just about everything is mass-produced, Brooklyn-based Hiho Batik is a refreshing change.

Using the traditional art of Batik to illustrate original designs, each piece of clothing offered at this unique Brooklyn store and studio is guaranteed to be one-ofa-kind. Kids and adults alike can also enjoy dyeing their own wearable artworks in the Make-Your-Own space situated in family-friendly Park Slope.

Here, Hiho Batik owners (and local moms) Robyn Stylman and Julia Silver Gordon give us the scoop on their thriving Batik business and a behind-the-scenes look at the Batik process.

doing for a long time. We love the way it looks in the way that we’ve made it sort of more modern… The other thing is it’s a very slow process. I think so many things are so fast these days—people are living so fast and electronics are often fast-paced—and so, this is a slow, relaxing process that sort of works with all the ages.

Tell us about the art of Batik and where it comes from.

Julia Silver Gordon: Batik is a very ancient art form, and I think the definition is “using wax and dyes to create an image.” There are so many different types of ways to Batik, so that’s a very big definition of it; one person who does Batik might not do it the same as the next. Depending on where you look, it’s been found in Asia, found in Africa…it really dates back to all these parts of the world, because I think the tools you use for it are so basic.

How does Hiho Batik use the ancient art in a modern way?

Robyn Stylman: You come in and pick what you want to make. Everything starts out as white, and our staff is here to lead you through the design process. You could either do your own design or pick from one of our stencils.

Then you do your design work, go up to our wax bar, depending on the age, either you’re waxing or we are doing the wax for you, and then you sit and paint them in with our dyes. You leave the item with us, we finish the process, and about a week later it’s ready for you.

How did you two come to open up a store revolving around Batik?

RS: Julia is an artist. She’s been practicing the art of Batik for over 20 years, so it’s just something she’s been

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Tell us about your backgrounds and about how you went into business together?

JSG: My background is basically this. I started doing this when I was in college as kind of just like a side job. And over the years I kept at it, having different variations of bulk orders for the music business, then moving into the children’s industry wholesale, and about 10 years ago, having this idea of wanting to do this kind of space because it felt weird having me be at the studio alone, making this and selling it… I started a mini-version of this in Miami to see if this was something that would work and it did!

RS: I’d always worked in sort of community-based jobs, so everything from the publishing industry to magazines to social media sites, and then I ran an education non-profit.

I had very much wanted to open up a creative space in Park Slope, and at the same time, sort of serendipitously, Julia and I were connected through a mutual friend. I had been a fan of the brand because I was actually given one of the products as a gift for my first son. And so the timing just worked out really well, that I was at a time when I really wanted to have a physical space where people could come in and be creative, and Julia was at a time when she definitely was ready to take this concept she had and figure out how to build it into an actual, full-blown business.

Tell us about your own kids. Do they enjoy Batik as well?

JSG: I have a son and a daughter: Eli is 8 and Sadie is 5.

Out of default they like it. No, of course they love it. I mean, the thing that has, over the years, been the strongest sell-

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as an individual or you could reserve the room as a group.

We do everything from birthday parties to baby showers to team-building events to bachelorette parties. You know, a lot of people automatically think this space is just for kids’ birthdays, but it really can be so much more. We also do a lot of workshops, so we love to partner with other organizations to bring workshops here, or we offer them on our own. Another service we offer is that you can send us your artwork if you’re not on site, and we can Batik it for you.

New Batik designs for fall 2014.

ing point of the clothing line is that kids really do enjoy wearing it—it’s not something that you have to force them into. They identify with the colors, they identify with the prints… I still like to see my kids in it.

RS: I think it’s cool for all of our kids when they see a Make-Your-Own on a kid. They recognize it since it’s such an identifiable look. I have three sons: A 6-year-old, his name is Bodhi, and 4-year-old twin boys, Theo and Miles. They wear Hiho—we actually have a rule in our house that not everyone can be in Hiho all at once or else we look like a walking advertisement.

What’s new for Fall 2014?

JSG: Because we make everything here on-site, we can react very easily to the seasons, and we’re constantly putting out new items. For fall, we have lounge pants, which we think are super cute, fun, and comfy. We have French terry jerseys, which are a nice transition from summer to fall, because they’re lightweight. And we have our New York Collection—this fall is going to be a big New York Collection. We do mostly size infant to size 12, but we are expanding. We’re going to be doing a very small women’s lounge section. We’re still testing and developing it, but it’s cute, comfy pants in different prints.

It’s in response to a lot of requests we’ve gotten.

What additional services does Hiho offer? Tell us about your party options and classes.

RS: With the Make-Your-Own space, you can either walk in

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HIHO BATIK AND TO SHOP THEIR COLLECTIONS, VISIT HIHOBATIK.COM!

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the last word

GHOSTS OF PARENTING PAST A Local Mother Of Two Reflects On Nostalgia & Shared Experiences In Parenting

LIVING IN CROWDED MANHATTAN, we’re constantly jostling and bumping into one another. As a result, we Manhattan parents encounter versions of our past selves everywhere: At the playground, on the sidewalk, by the school steps, and in diners.

One unusually unscheduled, brisk October day, I took my two girls up to a neighborhood park we frequented before weekends became a blur of team sports, birthday parties, and sleepovers.

As I pushed one daughter on the swings, I watched the klatches of younger parents meeting similarly startled, yet eager couples. No matter how many children one has, there is always that magic of the first child and the introduction to the culture, or often cult, of parenthood. It was nice to be back.

Seeing those pristine strollers with developmentally appropriate toys took me right back to those early days: Staring with love, wonder, and exhaustion into the halfclosed eyes of a drooling baby; breast milk everywhere; friendships made through sharing intimate birth story details while pushing strollers side by side; discussing sleep training and pacifier weaning milestones with all the gravitas given to UN resolutions.

This summer, walking down city streets deserted by all children over the age of 5, I saw the parents of toddlers retrieving kicked shoes and other detritus of those early years. The sippy cups have changed slightly but the Venti iced coffees clutched with desperation are familiar, as nursery school applications and pottytraining loom on the horizon.

All the phases of parenting seem to have the gravitational pull of a black hole while you’re going through them, and then feel like a mere bump in the road when they finally pass. I remember being in a parenting class with my oldest daughter and feeling wounded by the eye rolls from the moms with older children. When in another parenting class as a secondtime mom, I resolutely avoided the “been there, done that, get over it” attitude and tried desperately to only share advice if asked.

Maybe if you have a larger family than I, each stage of parenting is like riding a bike, but I always feel like I am driving a strange car through an ever-changing landscape

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without a GPS. Still, learning to expect the unexpected is helpful, and though I no longer have babes-in-arms, I do have comrades-in-arms. There is a bidirectional flow of information, love, and support when parenting older children. When sniffing ripe underarms and longing for those baby-fresh days, I also remember the up-the-back poops that necessitated cutting the onesies off with scissors. So far, this parenting gig is always getting a little worse and a lot better (yes, mothers of teens, I can feel your eyes rolling from here!).

I must admit that I possess an almost ridiculous wistfulness and often need a reality check. Recently, my friends and I were discussing a father-daughter school camping trip. The verdict? “It was better in retrospect.” We all laughed and starting yelling out other experiences better remembered than experienced.

“Dating!” “College!” “Losing your virginity!” And then, as if Nora Ephron was writing the script from above, we all said: “Having a newborn!”

Some of this article was written on a plane wedged between my two seasoned travelers, both quietly snacking while behind me, a pair of parents—he with a fussing baby in the BabyBjorn and she with a screaming toddler on her lap—argued over whether the children needed to eat or sleep (both, you poor bastards, both!) I still miss those days but I sure don’t miss those moments. When my younger one says: “Why is that baby so loud?” I lovingly tell her: “It’s payback time for you, McScreamy.”

So when visited by ghosts of parenting past, I smile, I chuckle, and I wipe away a tear—or seven—because they are nearly all funny, friendly ghosts. I tell the moms with newborns that they look beautiful, I tell the parents of toddlers mid-tantrum that their kids are just adorable, and I tell the parents of early grade children that almost everyone learns to read eventually, because I remember it all too well. I am so thankful that even though my children change before my eyes, when it comes to parents and children, nothing changes.

LANI SEROTA is a city mom madly in love with her two daughters, her husband, and New York City. Read more from her on our Parenting in Progress blog at newyorkfamily.com.

Illustration by Holly Morrison

By Lani Serota

www.newyorkfamily.com

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